Uruguay

Geography

Uruguay is an extension of the flatland "Pampas" region in Argentina, with rich soil that is ideal for grazing livestock -- mostly cattle, but some sheep as well. A greater proportion of the lowlands in the south and along the Uruguay River are cultivated for crops. Montivideo is the only big city. A hydroelectric dam on the Rio Negro built in 1949 creates a large reservoir in the middle of the country, where some hills are found. A large inland lagoon is found in the east, one of a chain of such lagoons stretching into Brazil, resembling the ones in North Carolina.

History

Uruguay was settled by the Spaniards in the 18th Century, much later than the rest of Latin America. The broad Uruguay River impeded travel to and from Argentina, and a distinct identity gradually formed as the wars of independence began. The "Orientales" (easterners) resisted incursions by Argentine and Brazilian armies, and with British help it gained independence as a "buffer state" between those giant neighbors in 1828. Much of the next three decades, the Blancos (Whites, or conservatives) fought against the Colorados (Reds, or liberals) in a civil war. When Paraguay tried to annex it in 1865, Uruguay joined with Brazil and Argentina in the War of the Triple Alliance, winning five years later. Like Argentina, Uruguay became wealthy in the late 19th century through cattle ranching. President Jorge Batlle (pronounced "BAHT-jay") was key liberal leader in the early 20th century who created the first real welfare state in Latin America, creating entitlements in health, pensions, and education that stabilized the country until the 1970s. The import substituting industrialization (ISI) strategy began to fail in the 1960s, as rising inflation led to discontent. Attempts at economic stabilization did not work. The leftist "Tupamaros" guerrilla movement terrorized the country in the early 1970s and kidnapped American businessman Daniel Mitrioni. President Bordaberry let the military take over in the "creeping coup" of 1973. Uruguay followed the lead of other Latin American countries and returned to democracy in 1984.

Culture

Uruguay is one of the most urbanized countries in Latin America, with 86 percent of the people living in cities. It is overwhelmingly European in its ethnic heritage, with a large number of Italians and a fondness for "tango" music, much like Argentina. Some Uruguayans even claim that the king of tango music, Carlos Gardel, was born in Uruguay. Soccer is extremely popular, and the country hosted the first World Cup in 1930, which it won. It also won in 1950, when Brazil was the host.

Politics

Like Colombia, politics in Uruguay has long been defined by a sharp rivalry between two major parties: the Colorados (Reds, or liberals) versus the Blancos (Whites, or conservatives). Unlike Argentina, Uruguay has had a relatively good record in terms of political stability and democracy since the late 19th Century, with the notable exception of a military dictatorship between 1973 and 1985. Uruguay abolished the presidency in 1951 and created a nine-member executive council. This unwieldy, rather utopian experiment was rescinded in 1966. The country's electoral system also has unique features. Within each major party there are several factions known as "lemmas" ("slogans"). Voting for congress takes place in a two-stage process in which voters first choose a lemma and then a major party. During the 1990s, leftist forces became much stronger, finally winning control of the government in the elections of 2005 under Tabaré Vázquez, who is considered a moderate within his "Broad Front."

NOTE: Width of each column shows each party's approximate strength. Colors and position (left to right) represent ideological leanings, which are often vague. Numbers show how many seats each party has in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Minor parties are not shown.

SOURCE: CIA World Factbook, U.S. State Dept.