For much of the 20th century, Paraguay was an island of isolation in the heart of South America. The book opens by painting a grim picture of a nation suffocated by the Colorado Party . Since 1947, and specifically under the iron fist of General Alfredo Stroessner (who ruled from 1954 to 1989), Paraguay was a "strangled nation." The Colorados were not just a political party; they were a mafia-like state structure intertwined with the military, the church, and the economy.
The book updates readers on Paraguay’s relationship with neighbors. It highlights the tension with Brazil over energy (Itaipú) and the influence of Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, who supported Lugo’s socialist leanings, causing panic in Washington and among the Paraguayan right. For much of the 20th century, Paraguay was
The book is a biography and historical analysis written by respected Latin American commentator Hugh O'Shaughnessy . Published in 2009 by Zed Books, it explores the extraordinary rise of Fernando Lugo—a Roman Catholic bishop who ended 61 years of one-party rule in Paraguay. Core Themes of the Book The book updates readers on Paraguay’s relationship with
As of Q2 2025, no official eBook PDF of the complete text exists. The most reliable path is interlibrary loan (ILL) for a physical copy or a legitimately scanned chapter via your university’s database. Bookmark this guide and check academic repositories like Open Access Paraguay (OAP) which may post a free, updated version in the future. Published in 2009 by Zed Books, it explores
He successfully renegotiated the treaty with Brazil.
Weaknesses