Uncovering South America's Lost Countries: An Interview with Lawrence Blair

Introducing Lawrence Blair and His New Book

Lawrence Blair, a British journalist and author based in Asunción, Paraguay, has recently published a fascinating new book titled "Patria: Lost Countries of South America". In this wide-ranging interview, Blair discusses his motivations for writing the book, his experiences living and reporting from Paraguay, and some of the forgotten histories and alternative narratives of South America that he explores.

Why Paraguay?

Blair explains that he first came to Paraguay about 10 years ago, after a brief stint working for an English-language newspaper in Santiago, Chile. Looking for a place where he could carve out his own niche as a foreign correspondent, Paraguay appealed due to its relative obscurity and lack of international media coverage:

"I jumped on some stories to do with drug trafficking, the tiny guerrilla group called the EPP (Paraguayan People's Army), you know, the Pope visited that year which was a major event and he publicly met with an LGBT group, which was quite historic in a very Catholic, very conservative country."

He found Paraguay to be a place where, in a small way, one could "tell a part of the Latin American story" - a microcosm of broader regional dynamics and histories.

The Fascination of Paraguay

Blair describes Paraguay as perhaps "the most delirious of Latin American realities" - a place where extraordinary things happen that could supply "dozens of Pulitzers, hundreds of Hollywood movies". He cites the country's long history of isolation, trapped between the Chaco forest and the Atlantic forest, as contributing to its unique character:

"I think there's always been that sense hasn't there of Paraguay, this kind of - and you know, to quote another Paraguayan writer - 'a vast island surrounded by land', you know, this kind of Caribbean island which happens to be in the middle of South America."

He notes that even today, Paraguay remains somewhat invisible on the world stage, with many people confusing it with Uruguay or being entirely unaware of its existence. This obscurity is part of what makes it such a fascinating place for a journalist to be based.

Language and Culture in Paraguay

One of the unique aspects of Paraguay that Blair discusses is the widespread use of Guaraní, an indigenous language, alongside Spanish. He explains that Paraguay is the only country in Latin America where a majority of the population speaks an indigenous language:

"Roughly two-thirds of people speak or two-thirds of households speak Guaraní to a greater extent at home. And so when you're interviewing someone - Spanish, so they're two official languages, Guaraní and Spanish - when you interview someone and you're attacking someone in Spanish, often they'll be quite formal, you know, it's the language of business or politics or the law and they can be maybe a little bit sort of reserved. But as soon as you kind of drop in a little joke or a little something in Guaraní, it's kind of - they crack up with a smile."

Blair admits his own Guaraní is still a work in progress, but even knowing a few phrases can help break down barriers and establish rapport with interviewees.

Telling Paraguayan Stories

Blair shares an example of the kind of stories he's been able to report on from Paraguay - the tale of a beloved local spice company called Micky that uses Mickey Mouse as its logo and mascot, having won a lawsuit against Disney in the 1990s allowing them to keep using the image. He saw this as an opportunity to explore broader themes of Paraguayan history, identity and relationship with the outside world:

"I wanted to do was not just tell this story about this weird legal case, but also like what does this show us about Paraguayan gastronomy, Paraguayan history, Paraguay's sense of itself as like this country, this little underdog country that's been up against the world, you know, has been invaded by all its neighbors and has, you know, really often been on the brink of extinction, you know, so many times, and yet has somehow found a way to like, you know, flip the script and find a way to keep going."

He notes that stories like this tend to resonate strongly with local audiences, who appreciate seeing positive, interesting aspects of their country highlighted in international media.

The Genesis of "Patria"

Blair explains that his new book has been about 7-8 years in the making, alongside his day-to-day reporting work. He describes it as "a journey through South American history - an alternative history":

"We, there are so many dominant narratives and stereotypes that that always get trotted out about South America and Latin America as a whole, and I think one really dominant one is that kind of Guns, Germs and Steel thing, right, you would have heard of this, the Jared Diamond book, which you know, I think has has a lot of positives to it, but there kind of - I think maybe an idea which Diamond himself doesn't even put forward, but I think has maybe taken hold."

He wanted to challenge some of the prevailing narratives about the region's history - both the left-wing view of constant exploitation and oppression, and the right-wing view of Europeans bringing civilization to an empty wilderness. Instead, he set out to tell the story of South America through "9 or 10 or so vanished kingdoms, pre-Columbian realms... examples not only, you know, before the conquistadors arrived, but long after, where indigenous peoples, native peoples, Afro-descendants, mixed-race people, the popular classes, for want of a better word, kind of resisted and fought back, you know, and created these alternative spaces, these of freedom, of autonomy."

Forgotten Histories

Blair provides several fascinating examples of the kinds of forgotten or overlooked histories he explores in the book:

• The Vilcabamba, remnants of the Inca Empire that held out for a generation after Pizarro's arrival, negotiating with the King of Spain and fighting off invasions.

• Palmares, a community of escaped slaves in Brazil that lasted for over a century and grew to a population of 20,000.

• The Mapuche people of southern Chile and Argentina, who successfully resisted Spanish conquest for centuries and maintained an independent kingdom spanning both sides of the Andes until the 1870s-80s.

• Ancient Amazonian civilizations that built vast cities with roads, pyramids and temples, and actively shaped the rainforest environment around them.

He argues that these histories show "societies can live in their millions with and within the rainforest without destroying it" - potentially offering lessons relevant to present-day environmental challenges.

A Different Approach to History

Blair emphasizes that while he has an academic background in history and the book is thoroughly researched and footnoted, he's tried to write it in an engaging, accessible style:

"It's written in a way that you don't have to be a nerd or a history buff to to enjoy it. It's - I try to write it in a fast-paced, novelistic way so you're kind of on the journey with me, you know, you've got your backpack on, you've got your machete, you're coming down the Amazon River and you're meeting these people. That's the key thing, you know, like it's not - it's not just me, right? I - we're hearing from the people who live in these places, right, like what do they think about, what do they know about it."

He hopes the book will contribute to raising awareness and interest in Latin American history and contemporary issues among English-speaking audiences.

Reflections on Being a Foreign Correspondent

Blair reflects on some of the challenges and ethical considerations of working as a foreign correspondent in a place like Paraguay. He tries to avoid being territorial about his "patch" and is always happy to meet other journalists passing through and share contacts and tips. At the same time, he's aware of the potential pitfalls of parachute journalism and the tendency for certain stories to get recycled repeatedly:

"Every year someone will come and do a story about like 'From Trash to Treasure, isn't this lovely?' And I - I - I don't want to - I don't want to be too down on on the organization or the NGO, like you know, I'm sure there there's been some good in it, but other people have said to me, 'Well hang on a minute, like these these kids are never going to be able to progress to professional level because no matter how well you've recycled your tin can to create a cello, it's never going to be concert standard. So like, are you not just being trapped into this almost like kind of performing circus animal kind of situation?'"

He tries to focus on finding new angles and telling stories that haven't been told before, while also being mindful of his own position as an outsider.

Historical Parallels and Contemporary Dynamics

Blair draws some interesting parallels between historical patterns of migration and settlement in Paraguay and contemporary trends:

"There's so many of these stories, these like - some of them perhaps a bit more sympathetic, these utopian experiments, these dreams, others are really nakedly imperialistic or colonial, but this - I think this this really deeply rooted idea which goes right back to the 1530s, 40s, that Paraguay is this kind of land of of fertile soil, of kind of barefoot, demure women, this agreeable climate, you know."

He notes that similar dynamics can be seen today with the influx of digital nomads, cryptocurrency enthusiasts and others drawn by Paraguay's low taxes and relatively lax regulations:

"I see a lot of that right now. There's a big expat boom, obviously nowhere near as big as as Medellín or or whatever, but I see a lot of that that happening now and a lot of them are Bitcoin miners because Paraguay has, at least for now, it has a huge amount of spare hydroelectric energy... So there are a lot of Bitcoin bros are kind of turning up and saying 'Oh great, we can, you know, just mine this stuff for for for free basically.'"

He sees these contemporary migrants as in some ways the spiritual successors of earlier waves of utopian dreamers and opportunists drawn to Paraguay over the centuries.

Closing Thoughts

Blair closes by reflecting on his position as a foreign journalist in Paraguay and the ethical considerations involved:

"As a journalist, although I I do live here, like I think you're not exempt from that, you know. I'm I'm also interested in finding stories and and selling them abroad, you know. I'm trying to do more work that's published locally and do and do more collaborations with colleagues, but you know, I think the trope of the faraway paradise is is really strong, you know. It's it's something that you have to reckon with."

He hopes his book and ongoing reporting work can help challenge stereotypes and bring nuanced, in-depth coverage of Paraguay and South America to international audiences. At the same time, he remains aware of his own limitations and potential biases as an outsider looking in.

Overall, Blair's passion for the region's history and contemporary dynamics shines through. His book "Patria: Lost Countries of South America" promises to be a fascinating exploration of overlooked histories and alternative narratives that can shed new light on our understanding of the continent.

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