Social Movements and the Struggles for Rights, Justice and Democracy in Paraguay (Social Movements and Transformation)

Paraguay is an under-examined, but remarkably fascinating country, where war, dictatorship, and elite capture have produced cycles of popular mobilization and repression. Yet, its social movements are less known to international audiences. This book analyzes Paraguay’s principal social movements since the transition to democracy and examines how, in the context of a weak state, authoritarian political elite, and a deficient democratization process, they contribute to progressive policy, socio-economic development, and democracy. Using critical perspectives in sociology, anthropology, geography, and political science, we bring together scholars, activists, and practitioners of social critique and community organizing. They reflect on movements involving peasant, indigenous and agrarian rights to land and livelihoods, LGBTQ and feminist struggles, labor union struggles, and student demands for access to quality education and social development, while exploring how the particularisms of Paraguay result in differences from other Latin American movements and how overarching regional tendencies may explain the similarities. This volume is the first English-language book on social movements in Paraguay. As such, it aims to provide a deeper understanding Paraguay’s principal social movements since the transition to democracy. This volume contributes to analyzing how social movements within the context of aweak state, authoritarian political elite, and a deficient democratization process contribute to progressive public policy, socio-economic development, and democracy. In addition, this book focuses on how Paraguayan social movements are similar to or different from their Latin American counterparts, how the particularism of Paraguay explains these variations and how overarching regional tendencies explain the similarities. The contribution of this volume is twofold: to provide new empirical examples in the study of Latin American social movements and theircontribution to development and democracy, as well as to validate or challenge social movement theories by employing empirical studies of Paraguayan social movements. Each chapter delves into the background to a specific movement, while closely analyzing the movement in the post-Lugo era (2012-2021). Together the chapters in this book contribute to a better understanding of social movements in Paraguay and Latin America thus dialoguing with the existing literature and social movement theories and considering how such studies can further our understanding of social movements in Paraguay and in Latin America in general. Finally, the study of different social movements within the Paraguayan context takes into consideration the links that each movement has forged with other such movements in Latin America, including the contributions that Paraguayan social movements have made to regional networks. Acknowledgments Praise for Social Movements and the Struggles for Rights, Justice and Democracy in Paraguay Contents Notes on Contributors Introduction: Social Movements in a Paraguayan Context Paraguay Today Early Seeds of Discontent: War, Dictatorship, and Growing Land Inequality The Shaky Transition to Democracy The Soy Republic: Ecoterritorial Solidarity among Social Movements Democratization and Disillusionment: An Opening for Social Movements A Brush with Pink Tide Politics: The Colorado Stronghold on Paraguayan Politics Contemporary Social Movements in Latin America: Remobilization of the ‘Old’ and Transformation into the ‘New’? Identity, Internal Movement Dynamics, and Solidarity across Movements In this Volume References Paraguay in the Twenty-First Century: From the Rise of Progressivism to Conservative Rearticulation Introduction A Hectic End of the Twentieth Century in the Background Neoliberalism in the Making Reactions to Neoliberalism The Rise and Fall of Progressivism The Conservative Turn Conclusions References Peasant Movements in Paraguay Introduction Social Movements and Struggles in Paraguay Theoretical Discussion The Context of Mobilizations Mobilizations of the National Peasant Federation in Response to Illegal Agribusiness Expansion Political Participation and the Paraguay Pyahurã Party Types of Action The Occupation of Large Estates and the Fall of the Dictatorship Recovery of National Colonies Appropriated by Foreigners Criminalization of Peasants’ Demands and Decline of Occupations To Conclude: The Future of the Peasant Movement References A Movement-in-Motion: CONAMURI and the Making of a Feminist Agroecology Introduction From Agrarian Reform to Agroecology Gendering Agrarian Change Toward a Feminist Agroecology The Shaping of CONAMURI CONAMURI and the Shifting Political Terrain Conscientizaçao and Agroecology Seed Exchanges and conscientizaçao as Praxis Contradictions of Feminist Organizing Conclusion References Understanding Indigenous Movements in Paraguay: The Case of the Xákmok Kásek Community and the Scales of Resistance Scales of Resistance Case of Xákmok Kásek Community Claims Data Sources and Methods Indigenous Claims The Local Context: The Chaco The National Context: The Institutionalization of Indigenous Protections Law 904 The New Constitution (1992) Global Context: The Emergence of Indigenous Rights in the International Arena A Fourth Space: The Ontological Context Conclusion References The Paraguayan Labor Movement at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century Introduction Background: Stronismo and Sui Generis Corporatism Democratic Transition and Institutional Reforms: Union Boom and a New Containment Model Unionism Before the Change of Government in 2008 and the Return of the ANR Current Challenges Final Comments References Work, Gender, and Labor Organizing: Paid Domestic Workers’ Unions in Paraguay Introduction An Atypical Actor: Paid Domestic Workers’ Trade Unions Paraguayan Workers’ Movement: From the Authoritarian Regime to Its Current Challenges Organizing from the Margins: Paraguay’s Domestic Workers Unions International Dynamics and Its Domestic Effects 2008 as a Window of Opportunity The Politicization of Care and the Demand for Public Policies Conclusion References The Feminist Movement in Paraguay: No Way but Forward Theoretic Frame Brief History of First and Second Feminist Waves Boomerang Pattern and International Alliances Expansion of the Feminist Movement and the Conservative Backlash Advancing the Feminist Agenda Within the State The Women’s Ministry Feminist Claims and Institutional Advancement on VAW Political Feminism Toward a Mass Feminist Movement Conclusions References State Violence Against LGBTQ+ setting the Boundaries of Citizenship in Paraguay Introduction The Context of the Transition and the LGBTQ+ Movement Regulation of Sexuality in Paraguay Techniques of Repression During the Transition Targeted Violence and Policing Censoring of Pedagogic Discourses on Gender A Question of Substantive Citizenship Conclusion References The Movement for the Right to Education in Paraguay: Student Actors and Disputes over Youth Subjectivities in a Society of Inequality Introduction Theoretical Framework The Movement for Secondary Organization (MOS) The Secondary Student Front (Frente Estudiantil Secundario: FES) The Student Ticket Movement The National Federation of High School Students (FENAES) The National Union of Student Centers of Paraguay (UNEPY) The National Student Organization (ONE) Redefining the Actors and the Dispute for Hegemony in the Youth Movement Conclusions References The Organization and Struggle of University Students in Paraguay: Student Movement Demands for Socio-educational Rights Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements General Description of Student Mobilization Processes UNA No Te Calles (2015) UCA Takeover (2017) Struggle for Zero Fees (2020) Perspectives and Reflections Results: Lessons Learned and Challenges Created by Protest Actions Struggle as a Historical Continuity Domestic and International Support Conclusions References Conclusion: Mobilize, Repress, Repeat Mobilize: Recent Waves of Protest Repress: Violence, Criminalization, and Censorship Repeat: Continued Challenges to Strengthening Democracy Persistent Inequality Ongoing, Evolving Government and Governance Crises Rights and Recognition Moving Forward References Index