De Francism

"To save the borders, the best saints are the cannons."

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia

De Francism is an authoritarian, economically left-wing, and extremely culturally progressive ideology inhabiting the top left corner of the political compass. He believes in a utopian society based around the teachings in Rousseau's The Social Contract. He is selectively elitist, anti-colonialist, and anti-clericalist. This manifests in somewhat needlessly authoritarian decrees. For instance, he forbade the elite from marrying within their own race, so they were forced to marry common folk. Some draw comparisons between De Francism and Jacobinism because of their mutual radical dislike of elites and shared authoritarian tendencies. Though De Francism took away many individual freedoms and squashed dissent, it was still beloved by the people of Paraguay. De Francist foreign policy is mostly isolationist, though he will make alliances with neighbors to protect himself. He also really likes hats for some reason.

Compared to most South American autocratic ideologies, De Francism was the most culturally liberal, and incorporated populist policies. Though the right wing parties despised De Francism, it was praised by the left wing parties. After the death of José de Francia, De Francism mostly died off. Though most remember De Francism for it's isolationist foreign policy, it helped solidify Paraguay's place in the world as a legitimate nation and helped bring progressive ideals and values to South America.

Beliefs

Francia aimed to found a society on the principles of Rousseau's Social Contract and was also inspired by Robespierre and Napoleon. To create such a utopia, he imposed a ruthless isolation upon Paraguay, interdicting all external trade, and he fostered national industries.

Francia in some ways resembles the caudillos of the post-colonial era, but he deviated from the elitist tendencies of most of his contemporaries. Instead, he attempted to reorganize Paraguay in accordance with the wishes of the lower classes and other marginalized groups. He greatly limited the power of the Church and the landed elites in favor of giving peasants a way to make a living on state-run estancias. He is criticized by some scholars for being entirely against the Church, he wanted only to diminish the institution's all-encompassing political control. He actually built new churches and supported religious festivals using state funds. Francia's government also took over services usually under church supervision, such as orphanages, hospitals, and homeless shelters, to manage them more efficiently. Francia and his policies were in fact very well received by the majority of Paraguayans, excluding the small ruling classes, and his neutrality in foreign affairs kept peace in a period of turmoil.

Francia's authoritarian regime built the foundations of a strong and dirigiste state in order to undertake the economic modernization of the country. Paraguay thus instituted rigorous protectionism at a time when most other countries were adopting the free-trade system promoted by the United Kingdom while entrusting their national bourgeoisie with the task of piloting wealth creation. This model, continued after Francia's death by his successors Carlos Antonio López and Francisco Solano López, made Paraguay one of the most modern and socially advanced countries in Latin America: the redistribution of wealth was so great that many foreign travelers reported that the country had no begging, hunger or conflict. The agrarian reform has allowed for a fairly equitable distribution of land. Asunción was one of the first capitals on the continent to inaugurate a railroad network. The country had a growing industry and a merchant fleet made up of ships built in national shipyards, had a trade surplus and was debt-free.

Variants

Lópezismo

After Francia's death on 20 September 1840, a political confusion erupted, because El Supremo, now El Difunto (the Dead One), had left no successor. After a few days, a junta led by Manuel Antonio Ortiz emerged, freed some political prisoners, arrested Francia's secretary Polycarpo Patiño, and soon proved itself ineffectual at governing. On 22 January 1841, Ortiz was overthrown by Juan José Medina, who in turn was overthrown on 9 February in a coup led by Mariano Roque Alonzo.

Alonzo lacked the authority to rule, and on 14 March 1841, the two-man consulate of the early Independence era was recreated. Besides, Alonzo now ruled Carlos Antonio López as co-consul. This Second Consulate lasted until March 13, 1844, when Congress named Lopez the President of the Republic, a post he held until he died in 1862.

Although López's government was similar to Francia's system, his appearance, style, and policies were different. Francia had pictured himself as the first citizen of a revolutionary state, whereas López used the all-powerful state to enrich himself and his family. López was a despot who sought to establish a dynasty and governed Paraguay as a personal fiefdom. López soon became the largest landowner and cattle rancher in the country, amassing a fortune, which he augmented with profits from the state's monopoly on the yerba maté trade.

Despite his greed, Paraguay prospered under El Excelentísimo (the Most Excellent One), as López was known; the population increased from approximately 220,000 in 1840 to around 400,000 in 1860.

During his term of office, López improved national defense, abolished the remnants of the reducciones, stimulated economic development, and tried to strengthen relations with foreign countries. He also tried to reduce the threat from the marauding native tribes in the Chaco.

When López took office, Asunción had only one primary school. During López's reign, more than 400 schools were built to accommodate 25,000 primary students, and the state reestablished secondary education. López's educational development plans progressed with difficulty because Francia had purged the country of the educated elite, which included teachers. López loosened restrictions on foreign relations, boosted exports, invited foreign physicians, engineers, and investors to settle in Paraguay, and paid for students to study abroad. In 1853, he sent his son Francisco Solano to Europe to purchase guns. López was concerned about the possibility of war with Brazil or Argentina, so he established an army of 18,000 soldiers with a reserve of 46,000, at the time the largest army in South America.

Personality

De Francism is violently opposed to Monarchism and Imperialism. He is often angry, especially at Authoritarian Right ideologies, though is somewhat tolerant of most other ones. Has no problem with being called a dictator. He is also extremely defensive of José de Francia, and likes to rant about Monarchy and Progressivism.

How to Draw

Flag of De Francism

Drawing De Francism is easy.

1. Draw a ball
2. Fill with light blue
3. Draw a white hexagram in the top-right section of the ball (try to make it somewhat pointy)
4. Draw the eyes, and then you're done!

Color Name		HEX	RGB
	Light Blue	#75AADB	rgb(117, 170, 219)
	White	#FFFFFF	rgb(255, 255, 255)

Relationships

Friends

• Nacionalismo de Izquierda - Amazing!
• Jacobinismo - You had really great ideas, father.
• Interculturalism & Progresismo Revolucionario - Mandatory race-mixing!
• Socialismo Utópico - I will create a utopia!
• Socialismo Agrario - Land reform policies were implemented under my rule.
• Hoxhaismo - You are perhaps the best Marxist approximation of my ideas.
• Babouvismo - I was very much inspired by your ideas.
• Indigenismo - You called me Karaí Guazú for a reason.
• Proteccionismo - Protectionist policies gave Paraguay a trade surplus and fostered local industries.
• Capitalismo de Estado - Basically me after De Francia.
• Fascismo Progresista - Basically me but economically corporatist.
• Ingsoc - Haha, the Chamber of Truth is based.

Frenemies

• Progresismo - You're cool, but you don't take things far enough.
• Socialismo - You're okay, but I don't know about all this "internationalism".
• Marxismo - Same as the above. Though I do wish you were born a little earlier - we could've teamed up!
• Marxismo-Leninismo - My modern followers are you, but understand that I am closer to him than you.
• Anarcocomunismo - You are technically my brother, but you are nonetheless a cringe anarchist.
• Bonapartismo - Too moderate economically and socially, but you are nonetheless an inspiration.
• Bolivarianismo - Your contribution to South America's liberation is beyond reproach, but I will not forget that you once tried to violate Paraguay, which had already gained its independence.
• Cameralismo - I am personally no monarchy fan, but apparently Solano López implemented you.
• Jingoísmo - Isolationism rules! Solano López takes over DEATH TO ARGENTINA, BRAZIL AND URUGUAY!!!
• Manosfera - You’re not right in the head. Even if you admire me, I want nothing to do with you, you hear!?
• Falangismo - The mandatory race-mixing is good, but you still have cringe social policy.
• Kakistocracia - My policies were good in retrospect, but most people argue that Solano Lopez’s campaigns destroyed Paraguay.

Enemies

• Stronismo - The one who ruined everything.
• Fascismo Clerical - The worst ideology.
• Anarcoconservadurismo - Actually the worst ideology.
• Anarcomonarquismo - No, wait actually this is the worst.
• Darwinismo - What’s your deal, man??
• Nietzscheanismo - That "slave morality" stuff you hate sounds a lot like me! and let's not talk about whatever YOUR SISTER TRIED ON MY LAND! well, at least we both hate Christanity.
• Teocracia Católica - "If the Holy Father himself should come to Paraguay I would make him my private chaplain."
• Imperialismo - Paraguay is not Spanish nor Argentinian!
• Racismo - Race mixing is good actually.
• Nacionalcapitalismo - Words cannot describe how much I hate you.
• Monarquismo Brasileño - British puppet!
• Nacionalismo - Shit ideology, go and mix with my Guarani people, NOW.
  • - SHUT YOUR MOUTH, BOLIGUAYO, I WILL NEVER WRECK MY EUROPEAN HERITAGE WITH THOSE SAVAGES.

Further Information

Literature

• Letters on Paraguay by John Parish Robertson
• Paraguayan Isolation under Dr. Francia: A Re-evaluation by John Hoyt Williams
• From Paraguay, a history lesson on racial equality by Juan Manuel Casal
• Dr. Francia by Thomas Carlyle

Wikipedia

• José Gaspar Roderíguez de Francia
• De Francian Rule of Paraguay

Gallery

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