Anarchists of Bolivia and Paraguay during the Chaco Conflict (1928 – 1932)

The conflict over the Northern Chaco between Bolivia and Paraguay, which developed into a devastating war from 1932 to 1935, was not only the bloodiest in South America in the 20th century, but also left a strong imprint on the subsequent history of both countries, their politics and ideology. Nation-alism and militarism, strengthened by the war, became the consensus for most political forces in these countries. Among the few currents that opposed this course were the anarchists. The anarchist movement in Bolivia and Paraguay found itself in different situations at the end of the 1920s: in the first country it was on the rise and enjoyed a powerful influence in the workers movement, while in the second it was in decline and seeking cooperation with other opposition forces. With different emphasis, the Bolivian and Paraguayan anarchists waged a stubborn struggle against the impending war, oppos-ing it with the anti-militaristic tactics traditional for anarchism. They called for sabotage of the war effort and the transporta-tion of war materials, refusal to serve in the army, desertion, and a general strike, which they believed would stop the war and develop into a social revolution. Despite the brutal re-pression that forced the anarchists underground, they contin-ued their anti-war agitation after the outbreak of active hostili-ties, aiding the population in resisting mobilization and in de-sertion. In Bolivia, they generally managed to maintain their commitment to traditional libertarian ideological guidelines, while in Paraguay many of the movement's leaders abandoned anarchism and joined the Communist Party. The first part of the article discusses the anarchist movement in Bolivia and Paraguay during the Chaco conflict before the outbreak of open hostilities in mid-1932.