Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America

Not because of any geographical similarity!

• 4 times larger than Switzerland• highest peak is only 501 m• no chocolate or watches!• and certainly no Yodeling!

Swiss-like attributes (30-60s):• peaceful country with a bountiful economy• home to South America's first democracy• cradle-to-grave welfare system• urban, homogeneous and educated population

Changes in world trade patterns led Uruguay into economic and political decline: not longer the Switzerland of South America

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USA Uruguay Britney Spears ORNL

RIO DE LOS PAJAROS PINTADOS (RIVER OF COLORFUL BIRDS)

Denmark

Albania

Ireland

Lesotho

plus 9 x Andorra

or 9000 Vatican cities!!!

?

Portugal

Spain

England

Argentina

Brazil

Paraguay

Charrúas• nomadic people

• fishing and foraging

• no permanent structures

• killed explorer Juan Díaz de Solís during his 1515 voyage up the Río de la Plata

• 1831: massacred at Salsipuedes ("Get-out-if-you-can")

• 4 survivors were taken to a museum and died in France

• 1680: Portuguese founded Colonia as a rival to Spanish-held Buenos Aires • 1726: Spain responded by building its own citadel at Montevideo

• 1815: the national hero, José Gervasio Artigas, declared independence

• 1816-1820: Portuguese captured Montevideo and Artigas fled to Paraguay

• 1821: Uruguay was annexed to Brazil

• 1825: “33 orientales" ("33 Easterners") issued a declaration of independence

• Uruguay's first president, Rivera: the Colorados party (reds).

• The second president, Oribe: the Blancos party (whites)

• 1903-1929: President Batlle y Ordóñez: welfare state funded by meat and wool exports: “the Switzerland of South America”

• 1950s: decline as successive governments struggled to maintain a large bureaucracy and social benefits

1960s: political and social crisis and left-wing terrorist activity

1973: military dictators control government, thousands of prisoners

1985: the brutal military regime ended; political and civil rights were restored

1980-90s: reforms to reduce inflation and public sector, and privatization

2002: recession and budget deficit, a growing public debt, and a weakening of the peso on international markets

2004: first victory of a left party: Socialist Broad Front won

Population• white 94% (European)• mestizo 6%• amerindian nonexistent

• estimated 600,000 Uruguayans emigrated• Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and USA

• Roman Catholic (62%)• Protestant (4%)• Jewish (3%), • nonprofessing group (31%)

Education• High literacy rate

• Compulsory for students aged 6–11

• Free at all levels

• Montevideo: centre for higher education

• The University of the Republic (1849): distinguished medical school that draws students from the region

• Vocational training: Labour University of Uruguay (1878)

• Catholic University of Uruguay (1985): prominent private institution

• Discrepancy between university training and job opportunities • Substantial level of emigration of the best-educated young professionals

December to March 80-100F

June to September 40-60F September to December 60-70F

March to June 60-70F

August 2005

• 120 miles/h wind

• 20,000 lost electricity and telephone

• airport was shut down

• 7 people killed

Economy

• Gross domestic product: U$11,646 (ranked 61st)

• Unemployment rate: 10.8%

• External debt: $11.4 billion

• Exports: $ 4.0 billion– Meat, rice, leather products, dairy, wool, electricity– Brazil , US, Argentina, China, Germany, Russia, Mexico

• Imports: $4.5 billion– Vehicles, electrical and industrial machinery, metals, petroleum– Brazil, Argentina, US, Paraguay, China, Venezuela

Economy• Tourism

– Seaside resorts– Punta del Este: jet set playground of South America– Ecotourism– International cruises: October to March– Montevideo: Mercosur secretariat,

• Common Market of the South (Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay)

• Software and consulting– well-educated workforce and lower wages: IT field – Tata Group: headquarters for the Spanish speaking world

• “Zona America” Business and Technology Park

• Financial and educational center for the Mercosur ???

Gauchos

Uruguayan food pyramid

Mate

Tango

Carlos Gardel

Carnaval: candombe y llamadas

Soccer: Two world Cups

• 1930: vs Argentina 4-2• 1950: vs Brazil 2-1

– Maracana stadium – Maracanazo: "The Maracana Blow“– one of the biggest upsets in football

history

Colonia del Sacramento

Montevideo

“Monte vide eu”

“Monte VI De Este a Oeste”

La Rambla

Ciudad Vieja (Old Town)

Ferias

Punta del Este

“Pearl of the Atlantic“

“the Hamptons of Latin America”

Punta del Este

Casapueblo - Carlos Paez Vilaró

Jose Ignacio Beach

Punta del Diablo (Devil's Point)

Cabo Polonio

Sierra de Minas (Minas range)

Towns……………..

Cerros Chatos (Flat Hills)

Thermal springs

Eco-estancias

“Uruguayans love beef, mate, soccer, the beach, and relaxing (but they are not lazy)!”

Hector’ s

tavern