Latin American Studies ETDs

Publication Date

5-1-2009

Abstract

In 1997, the community of Guayaki-Cua, Paraguay underwent a dramatic political and social transformation allowing campesinos to take a more active role in decisionmaking processes. This change established safety and security for local residents, and brought about the involvement of the Paraguayan government, nongovernmental organizations and residents to begin development work in the form of infrastructure projects. The end of the Stroessner dictatorship in 1989 signaled the end of autocratic rule and ushered in the neoliberal perspective advocating private property, free trade, and other measures to bring about the democratization of Latin America economies to foster growth and participation. In the late 1990s after a series of economic crashes in Brazil and Argentina the neoliberal model of development lost support from local communities. Rural communities such as Guayaki-Cua began confronting the established U.S. supported Colorado party system that changed its tactics after the dictatorship and favored neoliberal development. GuayakiCua is a community in transition where campesinos are making efforts to take part in a true grassroots democratic process, which favors just development while dealing with Colorado rule and neoliberal promotion as campesinos make strides towards increasing participation through grassroots methods.

Project Sponsors

Latin American Studies; Community and Regional Planning, University of New Mexico

Language

English

Keywords

Paraguay, Social movements, Development, Neo-Liberalism, Indigenous, Rural, Foreign policy

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Latin American Studies

Second Degree Name

Community and Regional Planning

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Latin American Studies

Second Department

School of Architecture and Planning

First Committee Member (Chair)

Valdes, Nelson

Second Committee Member

Henkel, David

Comments

Submitted by Johann van Reenen (jreenen@unm.edu) on 2009-07-23T17:59:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Campesino Participation in Paraguay.pdf: 704249 bytes, checksum: d5dc5b6b2d930c087d0983fa9a93628c (MD5), Approved for entry into archive by Doug Weintraub(dwein@unm.edu) on 2009-11-19T20:25:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Campesino Participation in Paraguay.pdf: 704249 bytes, checksum: d5dc5b6b2d930c087d0983fa9a93628c (MD5), Made available in DSpace on 2009-11-19T20:25:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Campesino Participation in Paraguay.pdf: 704249 bytes, checksum: d5dc5b6b2d930c087d0983fa9a93628c (MD5)

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