DOCUMENT RESUME ED 056 948 SO 002 055 AUTHOR Weil, Thomas E.; And Others TITLE Area Handbook for Uruguay. INSTITUTION American Univ., Washington, D.C.Foreign Area Studies. REPORT NO DA-PAM-550-97 PUB DATE 21 Aug 70 NOTE 435p. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendentof Documents, U. S. Gwyernment Printing Office, Washington,D.C. 20402 ($3.25) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC Not AvaiLable fromEDRS. DESCRIPTORS American History; *AreaStudies; Courts; *Developfng Nations; Economics; *ForeignCulture; Geography; Governmental Structure; Institutions;*Latin American Culture; Mass Media; MilitaryOrganizations; Religion; Social Systems;Values IDENTIFIERS Educational Systems; *Uruguay ABSTRACT This volume is one of 62in a series of handbooks designed to be useful tomilitary and other personnel whoneed a convenient compilation of basicfacts about the social,economic, political, and military institutionsand practices of various countries. The emphasis is onobjective description of thenation's present society and thekinds of possible orprobable changes that might be expected in thefuture. A bibliography isprovided to permit recourse to otherpublished sources. Also includedis a glossary of Spanish words and phrases, aswell as an index. (Author/D3S) _ =-_--__-- ----=,----7- -,----- =------_ - - --,....- __-------=-- ---- ::A--[%_- --_--- -----'-- 1 .---_ ----_, 7:----- ----- --7--- E-- - "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS CDFY- RIGHTED MATERIAL ny MICROFICHE ONLY HAS NEER GRANTED BY TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE USOFFICE OF EDUCATION. FURTHER REPRODUCTION OUTSIDE THE ERIC SYSTEM REQUIRESPER- MISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER AREA HANDBOOK for URUGUAN Co-Authors Thomas E. Weil Jan Knippers Black Kenneth W. Martindale David S. McMorris Sally Engle Merry Vf) Frederick P. Munson Research and writing were completed on August 21, 1970 Published 1971 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG. !HATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN- IONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT CFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU- CATION POSITION OR POLICY. DA PAM 550-97 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 75-609G27 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office Washington, D.C. 20402Price $3.25 FOREWORD This volume is one of a seriesof handbooks prepared byForeign Area Studies (FAS) of TheAmerican University, designedto be useful to military and otherpersonnel who need a convenient coin- pilation of basic facts about thesocial, economic, political, and practices of various countries.The empha- military institutions and and the sis is on objective descriptionof the nation's present society kinds of possible or probablechanges that might be expectedin the future. The handbook seeksto present as full and asbalanced an integrated exposition as linftations on spaceand research time per- mit. It was compiled frominformation available in openlypub- lished material. An extensivebibliography is provided to permit recourse to otherpublished sources for more detailedinformation. There has been no attempt to expressany specific pointof view or to make policy recommendations.The contents of the handbook represent the work of the authorsand FAS and do not represent the official view of the UnitedStates government. An effort has been made to makethe handbook as comprehensive as possible. It can beexpected, however, that thematerial, interpre- tations, and conclusions aresubject to modifications inthe light of new information anddevelopments. Such corrections,additions, and suggestions for factual,interpretive, or other change asreaders may have will bewelcomed for use in future revisions.Comments may be addressed to: The Director Foreign Area Studies The American University 5010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016 PREFACE In 1970 the Oriental (Eastern) Republicof Uruguay, noted for its dedication to democratic and orderlypolitical processes, its high standard of living, and itscomprehensive social welfare system, faced challenging problems involvingeconomic conditions and maintenance of internal security. Thegovernment, with the adop- tion of extraordMary powers, wasendeavoring to eliminate threats to the economy and to suppresspolitical enemies who resorted to criminal acts to advance their cause. This book represents an effort toprovide a compact and objective exposition and analysis of the dominantsocial, political, and eco. nomic characteristics of Uruguayansociety. It is designed to give readers both within and outside thegovernment an understanding of the dynamics of the componentelements of Uruguayan society and an insight into the needs,goals, and achievements of the peo- ple. A number of consultants, manyof them with firsthand knowl- edge of the country, have provideddata not available in printed sources. The authors alone areresponsible for the final draft. English usage follows Webster's ThirdNew International Diction- ary (unabridged). Spanishwords and phrases, which have beenused only when adequate Englishequivalents were lacking, are defined at first appearance. If they are employedfrequently they are listed in the Glossary. Spanish is based OMAppleton's Revised Cuyas Dic- tionary. COUNTRY SUMMARY 1. COUNTRY: Oriental(Eastern) Republic of Uruguay (Republica Oriental del Uruguay). 2. GOVERNMENT: Democratic,republican government divided into executive, legislative, and judicialbranches. Constitution of 1967 vests executive power in president;legislative power in the General Assembly, divided into the Senateand Chamber of Repre- sentatives; and judicial power inSupreme Court of Justice. Consti- tution also provides forestablishment of industrial and cultural organizations under state ownership.Suffrage granted to citizens eighteen years of age or over. 3. POPULATION: About 3 million.In 1970* almost half of total lived in Montevideo. Over 90 percentof population of European descent, principally Spanish and Italianorigin. Small number of mestizos (see Glossary) and Negroes. Duringnineteenth and twen- tieth centuries, population augmentedby waves of immigration, primarily from Europe. 4. SIZE: Slightly over 72,000 squE.remiles. Greatest north-south extent, about 350 miles; east-west,about 240 miles. Smallest coun- try in South America. 5. TOPOGRAPHY: Bordered on east byAtlantic Ocean; on south by Rio de la Plata estuary; on westby Rio Uruguay, which serves as border with Argentina; and on northwith streams and relief fea- tures separating it from Brazil.Geographical regions consist of fer- tile agricultural coastal lowlands and pastoralplateau interior, a gently rolling grassland with numerous lowhill systems. No deserts or high mountains. Many riversand streams, and swamps and la- goons near eastern coast.Excellent drainage system throughout country. 6. LANGUAGES: Spanish, theofficial language, spoken almost universally. Dialect in common useinfluenced by Italian vocabulary and pronounciation. Knowledge ofEnglish increasing among edu- cated groups. 7. RELIGION: Roman Catholicism,the professed religion of most of the people. Church and state ofilie:allyseparate, and religious freedom guaranteed. About 4 percent ofpopulation, Protestant or Jewish. 8. EDUCATION: In 1968 about600,000 students enrolled in schools at all levels, a large majorityin free public system. In late 1960's average amount of schoolinghorthose over age fifteen was five years, and literacy rate for those over fifteen estimated as high as 97 percent. Overall rate in excess of 90 percent. 9. HEALTH: Generally excellent. Low death rate, and high and increasing rate of longevity. Medical payments provided under wide variety of public, mutual, and commercial programs. Most of hos- pital facilities, government operated. Number and quality of med- ical personnel and facilities generally satisfactory but concentrated in Montevideo and some departmental capitals. Principal causes of death: circulatory diseases and cancer. Few endemic diseases or epidemics, and good public preventive medicine program. Extensive environmental sanitation program and good diet and nutrition con- tribute to general health of population. 10. CLIMATE: Temperate, with moderate seasonal changes and Fitt le regional variation. Generally adequate rainfall well-distributed regionally and seasonally. Cool, damp, and windy springs; warm summers; mild autumns; chilly winters, but frost and freezing tem- peratures virtually unknowri. Seasonal high winds and occasiOnal extreme droughts and floods lend variety and unpredictability to climate. 11. JUSTICE: At apex of judicial system is Supreme Court of Justice created in 1907, followed by four appellate courts and a number of lawyer courts and justices of the peace. Death penalty abolished in 1909. Contentious-Administrative Tribunal, a special legal body to ensure that governmental acts do not violate Constitu- tion. Tribunal of Accounts appointed by General Assembly to supenrise execution of federal budget. 12. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: In 1970 there were nineteen political divisions known as departments, each with at least two members in the Chamber of Representatives. Country divided into four military regions. 13. ECONOMY: Mixed economy in which both public and private enterprise participate. Most sectors of economy effectively con- trolled by state, either directly or through public agencies. State also engaged in industrial and commercial activities, in some cases as monopoly and in others in partnership with private companies. 14. INDUSTRY: