Paraguay's Autonomous Revolution, 1810-1840

by Richard Alan White

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Hardcover

Published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extraordinary insofar as it writes about an oft forgotten topic: Paraguay's social revolution from Independence until the Triple Alliance War. While the book is only an overview, one may conclude that Paraguay's example under the leadership of José Gaspar de Francia holds the key to understanding how Latin American countries, still suffering from extreme poverty, imperialism, and collaborative elites, may find a second independence. That it is largely and widely unknown that in the first half of the 19th century Paraguay virtually implemented universal literacy, became self-sufficient under a planned economy, developed its own manufacturing sector, and decades later possibly the strongest army in Latin America, is no coincidence.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

short but good overview of the early period of the paraguayan republic under dr. francia. there's not much on francia(or on paraguay in general) in english so this is a nice book to have even though it only just scratches the surface. francia himself must be one of the most fascinating political figures of the period, he's like if a 20th century 3rd world communist was transposed back to the 19th century, and many of the issues he had to deal with are things that any would be third world revolutionary would still have to deal with now.

[Ryan Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

It shocks me that this topic is not more studied, even among those concerned with third world development. Paraguay under José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, and up until the War of the Triple Alliance, implemented socialism, took itself out of the poverty that plagues exploited nations, and went farther in abolishing racism than any country ever has in the modern Americas. I cannot stress enough, it is shocking to me that this case is not more studied.

The most peripheral region of the Spanish empire, Paraguay on the eve of independence was a terribly poor place, run by a small Spanish and creole elite. Neither of these two, even with their mutual disdain, could develop the country. Enter Dr. Francia, enlightenment trained and inspired by the French revolution, who broke the backs of both groups by explicitly building up the power of the Paraguayan working masses, succeeding in both political AND economic independence. Land reform, industrialization, state control of the economy and all the other hallmarks of 20th century third world socialism were here, and they all worked.

I also admire what I can only describe as anti-racist social engineering. In order to cripple the power of the remaining wealthy Spanish, they were forbidden from marrying anyone also of European descent. On a not-so-long time scale, this means abolishing white people. While objectively hilarious, this did produce a genuinely multicultural and anti-discriminatory society, one where to this day the native Guaraní is more widely spoken than the European Spanish. I think this is just as important for how to end bigotry as anything proposed in the United States.

I will carry everything I’ve learned about Dr. Francia’s Paraguay, as I truly believe it was the best solution to the underdevelopment and inequality of the Americas. Regarding El Dictador, there are few men as interesting, correct, and incredible as Dr. Francia.