Beyond Coercion: Social Legitimation and Conservative Modernization in the Stroessner Regime (1954–1989)

Abstract

This chapter proposes to explain the construction of the Stronism in Paraguay (1954–1989) inquiring the sources of legitimation that made possible its regime of political domination. The author retakes the classical question about the legitimation of domination going beyond the argument that merely emphasize the despotic and authoritarian practice in the exercise of political power. The objective is to focus on the long-term elements that belong to the social structure in order to explain the possibilities of exercising political power for 35 years, while looking at Paraguay from the point of view of Latin America.