The Twin Nations: Bolivia And Paraguay's Unique Commonalities

Bolivia and Paraguay are two of the only three landlocked countries in South America. Both countries have a history of being ruled by a series of authoritarian governments and juntas, and both have experienced coups and countercoups. Bolivia and Paraguay have also fought wars against each other, including the Chaco War (1932-1935), which was won by Paraguay, and the War of the Triple Alliance (1865-1870), which was fought between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Bolivia and Paraguay are both members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of Ibero-American States, Organization of American States, and the United Nations.

Bolivia and Paraguay share a border and are landlocked countries in South America

Bolivia and Paraguay are two of only a handful of landlocked countries in the Americas. Bolivia is the fifth-largest country in South America, while Paraguay is smaller, with a population of around 6 million. Both countries are bordered by Brazil and Argentina, and they share a 753km-long border with each other. Bolivia is also bordered by Peru and Chile, while Paraguay is bordered by Bolivia and Brazil.

Bolivia and Paraguay have a shared history of colonial rule and independence from Spain. Both countries were once part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, and they both gained independence in the early 19th century. However, their paths diverged when they went to war with each other in the Chaco War of 1932-1935. The war was disastrous for both countries, causing serious economic, social, and political consequences and delaying their development. A peace treaty was signed in 1938, and the borders were subsequently delimited.

Bolivia and Paraguay are both members of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. They have embassies in each other's capital cities: La Paz and Asunción, respectively.

Both countries were part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata

Bolivia and Paraguay were both part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, which was established in 1776. The viceroyalty was a Spanish colonial entity that included territories in present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The viceroyalty was ruled by a viceroy appointed by the Spanish monarch, and its capital was Buenos Aires.

The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created as a split from the Viceroyalty of Peru, which had previously governed the region. The creation of the new viceroyalty was part of a series of Bourbon Reforms that sought to strengthen the Spanish Empire's control over its colonies in the Americas.

During the time that Bolivia and Paraguay were part of the viceroyalty, the region experienced significant economic growth due to the extraction of silver from mines in Potosí, Bolivia. This silver was a major source of revenue for the Spanish Empire, and it helped to fuel the globalization of the world economy through the creation of the first silver coins, which were stamped with the "$" sign.

However, the period of Spanish rule also saw the exploitation and oppression of indigenous peoples, including forced labor and virtual slavery. This led to several rebellions and uprisings, including the Chuquisaca Revolution in 1809, which is considered the first cry of freedom in Latin America.

In the early 19th century, Bolivia and Paraguay gained their independence from Spain and became separate nations. However, the legacy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata continued to shape the history and culture of both countries.

They were involved in the Chaco War (1932-1935)

Bolivia and Paraguay were involved in the Chaco War, which lasted from 1932 to 1935. The conflict was sparked by a dispute over the Chaco Boreal, a wilderness region in the Gran Chaco area of South America, which was thought to be rich in oil. Both landlocked countries had lost territory to neighbouring nations in the 19th century and were keen to protect their economic viability. Bolivia, which had lost its Pacific coast to Chile in 1879, was particularly interested in gaining access to the Atlantic via the Paraguay River.

The Chaco War was a costly conflict, resulting in the deaths of around 100,000 men. It was the bloodiest interstate military conflict fought in South America in the 20th century. Both countries suffered serious economic, social, and political consequences, and their development was delayed.

Despite having a much larger population and a well-trained army, Bolivia did not fare well in the war. Its troops, mostly indigenous conscripts from the Andes, were ill-suited to the lowland swamps and jungles of the Chaco. They suffered from low morale and many died from disease, snakebite, and gunfire.

Paraguay, on the other hand, had the advantage of fighting in familiar terrain. Its army, made up of European-Guaraní mestizos, was also better able to adapt to the harsh conditions of the Chaco. The Paraguayan army employed innovative tactics, including rapid marches and flanking manoeuvres, which ultimately gave them the upper hand.

The war ended with a truce on 12 June 1935, and a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires on 21 July 1938. Paraguay gained control of most of the disputed region, while Bolivia received a corridor to the Paraguay River and a port.

Bolivia and Paraguay are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of Ibero-American States, Organization of American States, and the United Nations

Bolivia and Paraguay are members of several international organisations. Both countries are part of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Organization of Ibero-American States, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations.

In addition, Paraguay is a member of several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It also belongs to the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Rio Group, INTERPOL, MERCOSUR (the Southern Cone Common Market), and UNASUR.

Bolivia, on the other hand, is a member of the Andean Community of Nations, the Bank of the South, and the Latin American Parliament.

Both countries have a history of authoritarian rule and coups

Bolivia and Paraguay have both experienced a series of coups and periods of authoritarian rule. Bolivia was ruled by a series of military and civilian governments until Hugo Banzer led a CIA-supported coup d'état in 1971, replacing the socialist government of Juan José Torres with a military dictatorship. Banzer's regime cracked down on left-wing and socialist opposition parties, resulting in the torture and murder of countless Bolivian citizens. Banzer was ousted in 1978 and returned as the democratically elected President of Bolivia from 1997 to 2001. Bolivia's most recent coup occurred in 2019, when Morales was forced to resign following allegations of electoral fraud.

Paraguay's history is also marked by authoritarian rule and coups. Following independence from Spain in the early 19th century, Paraguay was ruled by a series of authoritarian governments. This period ended with the disastrous Paraguayan War (1864-1870), during which the country lost half its pre-war population and around 25-33% of its territory. In the 20th century, Paraguay experienced another major international conflict—the Chaco War (1932-1935) against Bolivia—in which Paraguay prevailed. The country then came under a succession of military dictators, culminating in the 35-year regime of Alfredo Stroessner, which lasted until his overthrow in 1989 by an internal military coup. This marked the beginning of Paraguay's current democratic era.

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