Paraguay

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Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay, pron. IPA [re'puβlika del para'ɣwaj], Guarani: Tetä Paraguáype), is a landlocked country in South America. It lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, bordering Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. The name of the country means "water that goes to the water," derived from the Guaraní words pará ("ocean"), gua ("to/from"), and y ("water"). The expression in Guaraní often refers solely to Asunción, but in Spanish refers to the entire country.

Contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Geography
4 Economy
5 Demographics
6 Culture

6.1 Institutions

7 See also
8 Further reading
9 External links
10 Search Engine

History

Europeans first arrived in the area in the early 16th century and the settlement of Asunción was founded on August 15, 1537, by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar. The city eventually became the centre of a Spanish colonial province, as well as a primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the 18th century. Paraguay declared its independence by overthrowing the local Spanish authorities on May 14, 1811.

In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865–1870), Paraguay lost 140,000 square kilometres (54,000 sq mi) of territory (e.g. the Misiones region) and suffered a huge loss of its male population. Tradition holds that up to two thirds or more of the adult male population was killed, but some argue that upon analysis from historic records and census reports, this figure is greatly exaggerated.

Paraguay gained a large part of its current territory at the expense of Bolivia, in the aftermath of the Chaco War, the culmination of a long series of border disputes between the two countries. They tried to settle their claims diplomatically along the second half of the 19th century. Successive negotiations failed to produce a definitive agreement, and Paraguay established its jurisdiction by encouraging the settlement of the largely unpopulated Chaco area. By 1935, Bolivia had regrouped and was able to stop the advance of the Paraguayan army. Exhausted by a long war, and having expanded its territory considerably, Paraguay accepted the mediation of the League of Nations.

Politics

More information on politics and government of Paraguay can be found at the Politics and government of Paraguay series.

Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Paraguay is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Geography

Map of Paraguay

Traditional buildings in Calle Palma

The southeastern border is formed by the Parana River, containing the Itaipu dam shared with Brazil. It is currently the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world, generating nearly all of Paraguay's electricity.

The local climate ranges from subtropical to temperate, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, though becoming semi-arid in the far west.

Economy

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector that features both re-export of imported consumer goods to neighbouring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis.

Paraguay's economy is very dependent on Brazil, its neighbour in the east. Most of the country's imports come by road through the Brazilian port of Paranaguá.The selling of cheaper goods is another important source of revenue and it is still a common habit in Brazil to go to Paraguay and buy electronics there. About 60% of the GDP is from commerce with Brazil.

Despite difficulties arising from political instability, corruption and slow structural reforms, Paraguay has been a member of the free trade bloc MERCOSUR since 1991 .

Demographics

Asunción, the capital of Paraguay

Ethnically, culturally, and socially, Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in Latin America. About 95% of the people are mestizos of mixed Spanish and Guaraní Indian descent. The only trace of the original Guaraní culture is the Guaraní language, spoken by 90% of the population. About 75% of all Paraguayans can speak Spanish. Guaraní and Spanish are both official languages. Ethnic Italians, Germans, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Arabs, Brazilians, and Argentines are among those who have settled in Paraguay and they have to an extent retained their respective languages.

Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country. The vast majority of the people live in the eastern region near the capital and largest city, Asuncion. The Chaco, which accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2% of the population. The country is predominantly Roman Catholic, with some Mennonite and other Protestant minorities.

Culture

Landscape in the Gran Chaco, Paraguay

Paraguayans express their culture in arts such as embroidery (aho poí) and lace making (ñandutí). Their music, which consists of lilting polkas, bouncy galopas, and languid guaranías played on the native harp.

In the 1950s and 1960s the Paraguayan novel came of age.

Institutions

Unlike many Latin American countries, Paraguay has no aristocratic upper class. Wars, revolutions, and party strife eliminated the old leading families during the 19th century, and many of the people now in power are only a generation or two from the peasantry. That does not mean there is no social hierarchy, for the usual distinctions between town and country dweller, employer and laborer, and mental and manual worker still apply. But there is a fairly high degree of mobility between classes, and even the poorest peasant displays a strong degree of personal pride.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Social life revolves largely around an extended family of parents, children and blood relations as well as godparents. The Paraguayans' chief loyalty is to their family, and it, in turn, is their haven and support. Family interests determine to a large extent which party they will join, to whom they will marry, what sort of job they will get, whether they will win a lawsuit, and—in some cases—whether they would be wise to emigrate for a time. Anyone outside the family, except for an old and trusted friend, is viewed with indifference, if not with suspicion.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Inside the family, conservative values predominate. Children must be obedient to their parents, and women are supposed to be subservient to their menfolk. Godparents have a special relationship to the family, since usually they are chosen because of their favorable social position, in order to provide extra security for the children. Particular respect is owed them, in return for which the family can expect protection and patronage. Thus arises the pattern of personal favors that so colors all of the institutions of Paraguayan society.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

External links

[Guerra do Paraguai] - [História Geral]
[Open Directory Project - Paraguay] directory category
[Living in Paraguay] A point of view: Asuncion and Paraguay
[Paraguay de Antes] Old pictures and postcards from Paraguay
[Recipes for Chipas], a cheese and cornmeal bread
[WWW-VL: History: Paraguay]
[Paraguay main cities satellite views]

Search Engine

[Buscador Paraguayo]

[[zh-min-nan:Paraguay]]

[[fiu-vro:Paraguay]]

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