Paraguay's awful history

The never-ending war


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it's sad that paraguay still blames an ancient war for his failures. let's remember that a war is a ugly business and when paraguay invaded Mat Grosso (a brazilian province) their troops commited crimes too. What Paraguay would expect after invaded Brasil, that brazilian emperor would congratulate him? Solano is the one who should be blamed for the war.

Sharminator in reply to AGG75

Gerard, your understanding of why Paraguay´s neighbours suspended relations with Paraguay is simplistic and naieve.
Ironically, your opinion is related to the basis of the the article, that Paraguayans have never gotten over the idea that Brazil and Argentina are conspiring against them.

First of all you need to look at cause and effect. What was the trigger for the dismissal of Lugo? The massacre at Curuguaty, and complaints that Lugo didnt respond quickly enough and (so far unproven) allegations that Lugo was somehow involved.

Lugo responded by appointing a Colorado as Interior Minister, enraging the Liberals, who already felt there were too many non-Liberals in the government.

The Colorados were always against Lugo, and suggested to the Liberals that they would vote against Lugo in a Juicio Politico. The Liberals saw a chance to gain power (with their vice President in line to power), hoping that power would allow them to establish their credibility as stand alone rulers before the next elections.

The Colorados simply saw a chance to remove Lugo who they hated for having defeated them, and to drive a wedge in the coalicion that had beaten them.

All this happened without any intereference from Argentina or Brazil. They responded to a "rupture in democracy" in Paraguay. In reality, they dont care if Paraguay has a left, right or centrist government. If they did, they would have acted many times before. What they care about is the precedent that removing an elected President sets in their own countries. Mercosur and Unasur decided that in Latin America today, it isnt acceptable to have an unelected President.

Romania had a juicio politico this year and removed their President. The reason why there was no scandal afterwards was because they held elections 1 month later. In Paraguay, a different path was taken, a decision that a non elected government would hold power for almost a year. That us what is unacceptable to our neighbours, not the left or right wing nature of the government.

Marcus Valerius Laevinus

There is another byproduct of the 19th century wars arouns Paraguay.

AMATER in reply to El Gringo Sueco

And even more, El Gringo Sueco, Villa Hayes is the Capital of one of the three political Departments of the Chaco Region (and one of the 17 Departments of the country): Departamento Presidente Hayes.


I congratulate The Economist on its Christmas Specials, they are really good.

This war was virtually forgotten between two major wars, the US Civil War and the Franco-Prussian (later Franco-German) War of 1870-71. In those five years there was only another important war in Europe and America, in 1866. (The last two years of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico; the naval war between Spain and Chile, Peru and other countries, and the Indian wars in the USA were local, special cases.)

This long article, A Case of Total War: Paraguay, 1864-1870 is particularly interesting because of its consideration of the War of the Triple Alliance as what it was, a total war (for Paraguay). The data and the 79 footnotes provide additional information and a useful bibliography. It's a PDF document.

SilveiraAguiar in reply to CKpQzQfyyn

There are no historical proof of that, besides if Paraguay didn't invade Argentina, Brazil would fight alone (argentina was no friend of Brasil, actually there were many wars between then), Argentina fought when invaded, so this hypothesis is absurd and Solano should be mad to invade the two most powerful contries of south america at the same time.

SilveiraAguiar in reply to CKpQzQfyyn

the comparison is ridiculous, the invasion of Uruguay was made to help one part of the civil war, not to incorporate uruguay's territory. after the civil war brazilian troops left Uruguay. And Paraguay didn't warn Brazil of the consequences of the intervention as UK warned Germany of the consequences of the invasion. Solanno Lopes knew that Brasil didn't wish Uruguay's territory, but he saw an execuse to creat a "Great Paraguay"

CKpQzQfyyn in reply to SilveiraAguiar

You can believe that Paraguay started the war if you ignore the Brazil had already invaded Uruguay, which prompted Paraguay's entry. I guess you also believe that the UK started WWII after Hitler invaded Poland, only to "defend its national interests".



CoPPiUiVX3 in reply to George Syme

Hi George,










George Syme






Reluctant Polluter


YgorC.S. in reply to Mimisann



Me pregunto si alguno de los hispanoparlantes en la audiencia recomienda alguna fuente "fidedigna" para enterarnos más sobre este capítulo de la historia.

All in all, I enjoyed it very much.


The Paraguayan Army achieved the most brilliant and complete victory in the three-year Chaco War. The enemy NEVER passed through Nanawa, about 11,000 prisoner were taken in Campo Via, and about 7,000 in El Carmen. We were by far less equipped and as in the Triple Alliance War, the enemy was superior in number of soldiers. Nevertheless the Paraguayan Army won the Battle of Yrendague with supreme sacrificies.Paraguay won the war not because the Bolivian soldiers wore inadequate cloths in the Chaco, we won because the Paraguayan soldier is among the best in the world, and so were the officers.
Ceferino Gimenez Ramirez
Official Representative of the Reservists
Paraguayan Armed Forces.
Abnegacion y Valor!! Hasta Vencer o Morir!!



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