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-Colonial, and Anti-Clerical. 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.

History

De Francian Rule of Paraguay

Upon its independence, Paraguay was underdeveloped in comparison with its neighbors. Most residents of Asunción and virtually all rural inhabitants were illiterate. University education was limited to the few who could afford studies at Argentina. Very few people had any experience in government, finance, or diplomacy. The country was surrounded by hostile neighbors, from the indigenous tribes in the Chaco to the Argentine Confederation and the Empire of Brazil. Strong measures were needed to save the country from disintegration. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia served from 1811 until his death in 1840 and built a strong, prosperous, secure nation. Francia was popular with the lower classes and indigenous peoples. Despite his popularity, Francia's dictatorship trampled on human rights and imposed a police state based on espionage, threats and use of force. Under Francia, Paraguay underwent a social upheaval that overthrew the colonial elites. After the uprising of 14–15 May 1811 which brought independence, Francia became a member of the ruling junta. Although the military had the real power, Francia attracted support from the nation's farmers. Francia built his power base on his organizational abilities and his forceful personality. By outwitting porteño diplomats in the negotiations that produced the treaty of 11 October 1811 (in which Argentina implicitly recognized Paraguayan independence in return for vague promises of a military alliance).

Francia detested the political culture of the old regime and considered himself a revolutionary. He admired and emulated the most radical elements of the French Revolution. Although some commentators have compared him to the Jacobin Maximilien de Robespierre, Francia's policies and ideas perhaps were closest to those of François-Noël Babeuf, the French utopian who wanted to abolish private property and to communalize land as a prelude to founding a "republic of equals". The government of Karaí Guazú ("Great Señor", as the poor Guaranís called Francia) was a dictatorship that destroyed the power of the colonial elite and advanced the interests of common Paraguayans. In contrast to other states in the region, Paraguay was efficiently and honestly administered, stable, and secure. The justice system treated criminals leniently. Murderers, for example, were put to work on public projects. Asylum to political refugees from other countries was granted, as in the notable case of Uruguayan patriot José Gervasio Artigas.

Targeting the Church

One of Francia's special targets was the Roman Catholic Church, which had provided an essential support to Spanish rule by spreading the doctrine of the "divine right of kings" and inculcating the native masses with a resigned fatalism about their social status and economic prospects. In 1824 Francia banned all religious orders, closed the only seminary, "secularized" monks and priests by forcing them to swear loyalty to the state, abolished the fuero eclesiástico (the privilege of clerical immunity from civil courts), confiscated Church property, and subordinated its finances to state control.

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.

Rafael Franquismo/Febrerismo

The revolution of February 1936 overthrew Liberal Party politicians who had won the war. The soldiers, veterans, students, and others who revolted actually felt that victory had come despite the Liberal government. Promising a national and social revolution, they occupied Asunción and brought Colonel Rafael Franco to power.

During its 18 months of existence, the Franco government showed that it was serious about social justice by carrying out one of the largest agrarian reforms in the history of Paraguay. In addition, the new government guaranteed workers the right to strike and established an eight-hour work day.

Perhaps the government's most lasting contribution affected national consciousness. In a gesture calculated to rewrite history and erase seven decades of national shame, Franco declared Francisco Solano López a national hero and proclaimed Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia and Carlos Antonio Lopez as Benefactors of the Nation.

From a doctrinal perspective, Franco maintained an independent stance from the totalitarian regimes of his time, rejecting both fascism and communism. In his inaugural address as president, he defined his political vision in the following terms:

“We will not copy any of the existing constitutions, but we will draw upon the essence of all of them and give the new national organization [...] the core substance of our people and our race. The Paraguayan State will be neither communist nor fascist nor racist, and it will not adopt the aforementioned political forms”
Rafael Franco

On August 15, 1937, following increasing political and military pressure, Franco was deposed and sent into exile. Félix Paiva assumed the presidency in his place, governing until 1939 under a conservative administration that reversed several of Franco's policies.

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

Drawing De Francism is easy.

Draw a ball
Fill with light blue
Draw a white hexagram in the top-right section of the ball (try to make it somewhat pointy)
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 - I will destroy the excluded social castes!
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 - Practically my economic policies after De Francia.
Progresismo Revolucionario - 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 I disagree on the class struggle.
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, you want to restore the racial caste system and further the social divide between the blancos and the indigenous people!
- - SHUT YOUR MOUTH, BOLIGUAYO, I WILL NEVER WRECK MY EUROPEAN HERITAGE WITH THOSE SAVAGES.