Socio-economic geography and the land rights of indigenous peoples in Paraguay

Abstract

AbstractThe article investigates the long-term tendencies of Paraguayan political-economy, in particular the mounting impacts of export-oriented agribusiness on its indigenous peoples. The analysis is based on the theorisation of the geographical force of subtraction, that is, the evanescent properties of capitalist development, in which economic growth takes place via an interconnected elimination of rights, opportunities and alternatives. The discussion is focussed on the land struggle of the Paĩ Tavyterã in the northeast of Paraguay and members of the same ethnic group who live in Brazil (called Guarani-Kaiowa). It is a relational narrative that draws insights from various actors, communities and situations. The main conclusions are that, despite the fact that Paraguay is now a major exporter of agribusiness commodities, what has prevailed is the accumulation of multiple forms of political, environmental, social and economic violence. At the same time, the decolonising reaction of indigenous peoples, in alliance with other sectors of the working class, aims at reverting the deficit caused by systemic socio-economic subtraction and in pursuit of transformative additions.