Paraguay (Discovering South America: History, Politics, and Culture Series)

A landlocked nation surrounded by its South American neighbors, the Republic of Paraguay has been isolated throughout much of its history. After achieving independence from Spain in 1811, the country suffered under decades of dictatorships and political strife before achieving democracy toward the end of the 20th century. Most of its approximately 7 million citizens are part Guarani Indian and part Spanish and speak both languages.