PARAGUAY
Paraguay, is a Latin American country that has been deemed a “developing nation.” And with this perception of the Country, one would begin to emphasize and be directed to the population of the country. The population of Paraguay has increased a considerable amount within the past three decades. In 1965, the population of Paraguay had been estimated at 2.1 million people. See table 1.1. (World Population prospects 1990, No.120) As of recent figures, the population rate has been estimated at roughly over 5.5 million people. See table 18.2 for further estimates. Granted, this trend is lower than most large countries, even though Paraguay is roughly a little smaller than the State of California, at 405,670 square Kilometers. (CIA WorldBook, 1998) Due to the exponential increase in the rate of growth, the population growth rate has been estimated at 2.81 percent in 1965, 3.06 percent in 1985 (Studies in Family Planning, 1992), and was estimated at 2.76 percent in 1994. (CIA WorldBook, 1994) One can see that this trend that was increasing, has seemed to decrease. Table 1.1 contains information concerning the rate of population growth from 1965 to present. One Hundred years prior, 1865, there was a large and destructive war in Paraguay. This war, The War of the Triple Alliance, caused a great deal of deaths. Before the war, there were approximately 318,114 people. (Kleinpenning, 474) However after the war ended, which was around 1870, the population of was dwindled to roughly 221,070. (Kleinpenning, 474) The majority of this figure was composed of women and children.The rate of population growth has a direct relation to the population birth rate. In Paraguay, the birth rate seems to be at approximately 32 births per 1000 people as of 1999. (CIA WorldBook, 1999) The trend of the fertility has been in a decline since the mid-60’s and early 70’s. The fertility trend from 1955 to 1990 has decreased from the rate of 6.8 to 4.7 children born/woman. See table 2.1 for further information. One can come to a conclusion that Paraguay is making an effort to control, or make aware of the population increase, hence, the declining of the fertility rate. (Kleinpenning, 474)
Population has greatly effected the country as a whole. The trend in population density, since the late 1800’s, has been located in the eastern section of the Country. This has been mostly situated around Asuncion (the Capital City of the Central Department and first permanent European settlement in Paraguay). During this period, there was an uneven distribution of the population throughout the country. Most of the population was located around the central zone of Paraguay, where 77.1 percent was in the Asuncion and the Presidente Hayes area. This was recorded in 1864. 71.4 percent of the population was concentrated in the central zone of Paraguay. (Kleinpenning, 476-477)This distribution of the population seemed to remain unchanged even in to the 1920’s. The Asuncion and Villa Hayes region experienced a growth that was 77.3% of the population, again in the central zone. The southern region contained 15%, and in the northern area of the country, the population was estimated to being 7.6% of the nation’s population. This seemed to be a very distinct pattern in the population distribution. One reason for this surge in the population in the central zone was the infrastructure. The railroad traveled through the area of the capital. This attracted people and more settlements. Also it was one of the major centers of the country, therefore causing the sparsely populated country to shift to these areas. See Figure 13.1 and Figure 13.4. (Kleinpenning, 477-482)
Agriculture in Paraguay is 25% of the Gross Domestic Product. It also employs approximately 45% of the nations labor force. (CIA WorldBook), Therefore, Agriculture is very important. The amount of lad that is arable in Paraguay is estimated at 6%, 0% which is permanent crops, and Permanent pastures account for about 55%. Forests and woodland also account for the agricultural area of the nation; this is estimated at 32%. (CIA WorldBook, 1999) Because Agriculture is such an intricate portion of the economy, there was more of a movement of this region toward the eastern portion of the country mostly due to the fertile soil of that area. This land is suitable for producing crops. (WorldBank, 3) This would also begin to account for the fact that the densest area of the population is located in the eastern portion of the nation. This would be because of the agricultural expansion. Also, due to the Hydroelectric projects (the Itaipu dam construction) urbanization became a result in the Ciudad Presidente Stroessner (CPS). (WorldBank, IV)
The Urban structure of Paraguay can be related to the idea of the Primate City. The capital city of Central, Asuncion, is noted as “a) the principal commercial, marketing, and processing center for the country’s agricultural products (about three/fourths of manufacturing enterprises are located there); b) the hub of the country’s transport network; and c) the seat of the centralized form of government.” (WorldBank, 1) Because primate cities have are usually greatly larger than other cites of the country, one could begin to use this assumption with the idea of Asuncion as being the primate City of Paraguay. Yes, this is where the economic center of the country seems to be located, and yes, this is where the agricultural center seems to be located, and of course, yes, this is where the majority of the population is contained. However, the fact that the Primate City principal also states that it is the most important city, where there is no other influence and hierarchy in other cities. This does seem to be the case here. However, the number of large cites seem to be increasing. F.E. de Gasperi, in 1920 estimated the population of Asuncion to be 175,552 inhabitants. Also which contained the less area of all the cities, at 633 square Kilometers, which means the city is very dense. Asuncion had the largest population of cites in Paraguay in 1920. See table 13.2 for information on the size of cities in 1920. (Kleinpenning, 480) Other cities that became important, but still not as important as Asuncion, include, Villarrica at 28,755 inhabitants, Luque at 18,234, Caazapa at 17,547 inhabitants, and a host of others. Recent data shows that the second largest city is Ciudad del Este, with a population of 150,000, and important regional centers include Villarrica, Concepcion, and Encarnacion. Coronel Oviedo, San Estanislao, and Pedro Juan Cabellero have experienced significant growth. (Greenfield, 427)
By 1990, population of the metropolitan area of Asuncion has risen to approximately 1 million people. 60% reside within the boundaries of Asuncion, while the rest remain in the suburban area. (Kleinpenning, 440) Asuncion seems to establish many of the ideas behind the Primate City, while still holding one-quarter of the Paraguay’s population of 4 million. (Greenfield, 427)Paraguay became a holding of the Spain. When explorer Alejo Garcia made his voyage, he ended up landing off the coast of Brazil. However, it still remained unknown. It wasn’t until Sebastian Cabot’s that a settlement began. Buenes Aires was the first settlement, but was short lived. Later Juan de Ayolas made an exhibition, and went the route that Garcia did. However, he as well as Garcia never returned. There was a group that waited for Ayolas’ return, and when he didn’t they formed a stockade. This stockade later became Asuncion in. It was then the first permanent European settlement and legally became a city in 1541. Out of Asuncion, other settlements began to become established. Asuncion wasn’t an indigenous settlement; it was a colonial settlement. “Within 20 years of its founding Asuncion began to evolve as the centrifugal focus of what were intended as major town foundings.” (Greenfield, 431-432)
This colonial settlement, like others, began to influence the ways of other settlements that began to form. And in many ways became as was stated earlier a foci.Paraguay began to have an urban system that was established by three legal cities: Asuncion, Villarrica, and Concepcion. (Greenfield, 436) Because Asuncion was functioning as a primate city, it began to influence the urban fabric that began to form with the establishments of new settlements. Therefore colonialism began because of exhibitions, and trade routes, of course to find new resources became an establishing reason behind the Paraguayan settlements.
Paraguay is in a Developing stage. The fact that the population is continuing to increase brings one to believe that the country is well on its way to creating a more developed society. Modernization is becoming more and more apparent. Paraguay was a dependent Country, due to the fact that in export, it was exchanging primary products of its own for higher quality industrial products. “Paraguay was indeed a dependent country, in the sense that investments in the export-oriented primary sector were made chiefly by Argentinean, European and American Enterprises.” (Kleinpenning, 487) Agricultural advances were given to Paraguay for the exchange of products. “it seems justified to conclude that the country was dependent, or forced to choose a dependent position because it was weak and underdeveloped. Thanks to this dependency, a process of economic growth and (fragmentary) modernisation took place.” (Kleinpenning, 487) Therefore, one can conclude that because part of Paraguay’s economy is deep in trade, and exchange, that the exchange allowed the country to grow and become more and more self-sufficient therefore increasing in modernity. One can also say that because of the fact that the American and European enterprises used Paraguay to continue their progress, that the idea of international political economy was being used. The exploiting of Paraguay for their benefit, but at the same time, allowing betterment for all parties involved.Due to the facts described above, and in previous statements, one can come to an assumption that Paraguay is becoming stronger and stronger in its economy. It’s population growth and continued growth in its economy begins to create a country that, with continued modernization, will become more industrialized, and technological. The hydroelectric projects are only one step in the industrialization of the nation. It is showing the growth of a soon to be developed nation…. However, the path is still slow in the making. However, with the continued economical goals, and agricultural improvements, whether aided internationally or not, the country will begin to become more developed in future years to come.
