DOCUMENT RESUME ED 086-637 SO 006 870 AUTHOR Weil, Thomas E.; And Others TITLE Area Handbook for Ecuador. INSTITUTION American Univ., Washington, D.C. Foreign Area Studies. REPORT NO DA-Pam-550-52 PUB DATE 73 NOTE 410p. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 ($4.10) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$16.45 DESCRIPTORS *Area Studies; Cultural Background; Demography; *Developing Nations; Economic Change; Economics; *Foreign Culture; Foreign Relations; Geography; Governmental Structure; Guides; History; *Latin American Culture;_ Military Organizations; National Defense; Religion; Social Structure; Social Systems; Sociocultural Patterns IDENTIFIERS Ecuador ABSTRACT This volume on Ecuador is one of a series of handbooks prepared by the Foreign Area Studies (FAS) of the American University, designed to be useful to military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of various countries. The emphasis is on objective description of the nation's present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be expected in the future. The organization of the book is in four sections dealing with the social, political, economic, and national security aspects of Ecuador. An extensive bibliography and a glossary are provided. Related documents are SO 006 036 and SO 006 669.(Author/KSM) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY U 5 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE DF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEENREPRO DUCE() EXACTLY AS RECEIVEDFROM ORIGIN THE PERSON DR ORGANIZATION ATING IT POINTS DF VIEW OROPINIONS STATED DO NDT NECESSARILYREPRE SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTILJTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLIC', O AREA HANDBOOK for ECUADOR Co-Authors Thomas E. Weil O Jan Knippers Black Howard I. Blutstein ) David S. Mc Morris Mildred Gill Mersereau Frederick P. Munson Kathryn E. Parachini Research and writing were completed August 1972 Published 1973 (This handbook supersedes DA Pam 550-52, August 1966) DA PAM 550-52 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 67-61681 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Price $4.10 domestic postpaid, or $3.75 GPO Bookstore FOREWORD This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by For- eign Area Studies (FAS) of The American University, designed to be useful to military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of various countries. The em- phasis is on objective description of the nation's present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be ex- pected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced an integrated exposition as limitations on space and re- search -time permit. It was compiled from information available in openly published material. An extensive bibliography is provided to permit recourse to other published sources for more detailed in- formation: There has been no attempt to express any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent the official view of the United States government. An effort has been made to make the handbook as comprehen- sive as possible. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpretations, and conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information and developments. Such corrections, ad- ditions, and suggestions for factual, interpretive, or other change as readers may have will be welcomed 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 iii PREFACE Changes of government and new trends in economic develop- ment point to the desirability of revising the Area Handbook for Ecuador, published in 1966. Of particular significance is the ex- ploitation of oilfields in the Amazonian lowlandsa factor that promises to strengthen the country's economy and to provide the Revolutionary Government with increased opportunities to im- prove the lot of the people. This book supersedes the Area Handbook for Ecuador, re- searched and written by Helen A. Barth, Frederic H. Chaffee, Gabriel De Cicco, John H. Dombrowski, Susan G. Fortenbaugh, and Thomas D. Roberts under the chairmanship of Edwin E. Erickson. It represents an effort to provide a compact and objec- tive exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic characteristics of Ecuadorian society. It is designed to give readers both within and outside the government an under- standing of the dynamics of the elements of the society and an in- sight into the needs, goals, and achievements of the people. Con- sultants with firsthand knowledge of the country have provided data not available in printed sources. The authors alone are re- sponsible for the final draft. English usage follows Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dic- tionary (unabridged). Spanish words and phrases, used only when adequate English equivalents are lacking, are defined at first appearance; if employed frequently, they are listed in the Glossary. Spanish is based on Appleton's New Cuyas Dictionary (Fifth Edition). Unless otherwise stated, tons used in production and commodity figures are metric tons. COUNTRY SUMMARY 1. COUNTRY: Republic of Ecuador (Repdblica del Ecuador). 2. SIZE, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CLIMATE : Land area of about 106,000 square miles ; third smallest state in South America. To- pography dominated by two parallel ranges of Andes mountains, extending roughly north to south and separated by series of heav- ily populated basins. Highland area separates coastal and Ama- zon lowlands. Major rivers rise in Andes and drain into Pacific or Amazon. Equatorial climate modified by cold waters of Peru (or Humboldt) Carrent, which follows coast, and by altitude. Temperatures high in lowlands, moderate in highlands; little sea- sonal change. Heavy year-round rainfall in northern part of coastal lowlands and in Amazon lowlands, moderate to light in highlands, semiarid conditions in south near Peruvian border. 3. POPULATION: Approximately 6.4 million in 1972. Average annual rate of increase 3.4 percent since 1960. Since World War II a sustained high rate of migration from Andean highlands, original center of population concentration, to coastal lowlands. In 1972 population of these regions about equal ; scanty popula- tion in Amazon lowlands. Urban sector made up slightly less than 40 percent of total. 4. ETHNIC GROUPS AND LANGUAGES: Population com- prises mainly South American Indian and white Hispanic physi- cal stock, with a small element of African Negro. Extensive racial mingling has made it difficult to judge proportions of various ele- ments. In the early 1970s, however, it was generally estimated that out of a total population of more than 6 million, Indians con- stituted 40 to 45 percent; mestizos, 40 to 45 percent ; whites, 10 to 15 percent; and Negroes, 5 to 10 percent. Great variety in Indian groups from the Quechua-speaking subsistence farmers of the highlands to primitive Jivaros and Aucas of the Amazon low- lands. Negroes retain little of their African heritage and are cul- turally similar to other members of the lower socioeconomic lev- els. Whites and some mestizos make up dominant national society. Spanish is the national language, but Quechua is spoken by many in the highlands. A number of indigenous languages are still widely used in the Amazon lowlands. 5. RELIGION: Great majority. of people are Roman Catholic. Influence of church particularly strong in highlands, where it was established soon after Spanish conquest. A number of Indians practice tribal religions. Small Protestant community. vii 6. EDUCATION: Enrollments at all levels gained rapidly during 1960s and early 1970s. Primary and secondary curricula modern- ized during mid-1960s. At primary level, expansion of facilities in rural areas emphasized. Success of efforts to increase vocational school enrollments at secondary level limited by continued stu- dent preference for academic schools. Several new universities established, and higher education enrollment increased at rate probably exceeding ability of economy to absorb newly trained professionals. 7. HEALTH: Medical personnel and facilities concentrated in major urban centers. Emphasis in 1972 on rural hospital con- struction, but demand for modern medical care in rural areas lim- ited because of survival of traditional health attitudes and prac- tices. Respiratory ailments, infectious and parasitic diseases, and diseases of intestinal tract principal causes of death during 1960s. Yellow fever eradicated, and considerable success achieved in pub- lic health campaigns against tuberculosis, malaria, and polio- myelitis. 8. GOVERNMENT: In 1972 governed by a military junta that deposed the president in February and ruled by decree. Officers of armed forces filled seven of ten cabinet posts. National, provin- cial, and local elections suspended. Court system reorganized. 9. INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: The country is a mem- ber of the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Latin American Free Trade Asso- ciation (LAFTA), the Andean Common Market (ACM), and the United Nations and many of its specialized agencies. Also a party to the Inter-American Treaty