Progressivism, post-neoliberalism, and conservative rearticulation: transformations of contemporary Paraguayan politics

Abstract

The article analyzes political transformations in Paraguay from the fall of the Stroessner regime to the present day, focusing on the transition to neoliberalism, the rise of progressive forces, and the subsequent conservative rearticulation. It highlights how these processes have reshaped the Paraguayan political system by examining the actors, conflicts, and dynamics that have driven these changes. The research aims to understand the impact of structural reforms, social resistance, and ideological trends on the country’s political landscape through a socio-historical analysis of key contemporary political processes in Paraguay. A qualitative approach is employed, integrating documentary analysis, existing scholarly literature, and data on sociopolitical developments. The study reconstructs the critical junctures of the period under review, linking them to the trajectories of various political and social actors. Among its main conclusions, the article argues that while progressivism in Paraguay achieved notable advances in social policy and the incorporation of previously marginalized sectors, it was constrained by structural limitations, internal fragmentation, and a lack of parliamentary support. These conditions facilitated its decline and the emergence of a new conservative phase, marked by a neoconservative technocracy and the reaffirmation of entrenched economic elites.