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$Unique_ID{COW03825}
$Pretitle{297}
$Title{Uruguay
Front Matter}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{The Director Foreign Area Studies}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{country
uruguay
million
government
high
miles
montevideo
percent
system
important}
$Date{1971}
$Log{Figure 1.*0382501.scf
}
Country: Uruguay
Book: Area Handbook for Uruguay
Author: The Director Foreign Area Studies
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date: 1971
Front Matter
Foreword
This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by 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 handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced
an integrated exposition as limitations on space and research 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 information. 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 comprehensive as
possible. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpretations, and
conclusions are subject to modifications in the light of new information and
developments. Such corrections, additions, 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
Preface
In 1970 the Oriental (Eastern) Republic of Uruguay, noted for its
dedication to democratic and orderly political processes, its high standard
of living, and its comprehensive social welfare system, faced challenging
problems involving economic conditions and maintenance of internal security.
The government, with the adoption of extraordinary powers, was endeavoring to
eliminate threats to the economy and to suppress political enemies who
resorted to criminal acts to advance their cause.
This book represents an effort to provide a compact and objective
exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic
characteristics of Uruguayan society. It is designed to give readers both
within and outside the government an understanding of the dynamics of the
component elements of Uruguayan society and an insight into the needs, goals,
and achievements of the people. A number of consultants, many of them with
firsthand knowledge of the country, have provided data not available in
printed sources. The authors alone are responsible for the final draft.
English usage follows Webster's Third New International Dictionary
(unabridged). Spanish words and phrases, which have been used only when
adequate English equivalents were lacking, are defined at first appearance.
If they are employed frequently they are listed in the Glossary. Spanish is
based on Appleton's Revised Cuyas Dictionary.
Country Summary
1. COUNTRY: Oriental (Eastern) Republic of Uruguay (Republica Oriental
del Uruguay).
2. GOVERNMENT: Democratic, republican government divided into executive,
legislative, and judicial branches. Constitution of 1967 vests executive
power in president; legislative power in the General Assembly, divided into
the Senate and Chamber of Representatives; and judicial power in Supreme Court
of Justice. Constitution also provides for establishment 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 percent of population of European descent, principally
Spanish and Italian origin. Small number of mestizos (see Glossary) and
Negroes. During nineteenth and twentieth centuries, population augmented by
waves of immigration, primarily from Europe.
4. SIZE: Slightly over 72,000 square miles. Greatest north-south extent,
about 350 miles; east-west, about 240 miles. Smallest country in South
America.
5. TOPOGRAPHY: Bordered on east by Atlantic Ocean; on south by Rio de la
Plata estuary; on west by Rio Uruguay, which serves as border with Argentina;
and on north with streams and relief features separating it from Brazil.
Geographical regions consist of fertile agricultural coastal lowlands and
pastoral plateau interior, a gently rolling grassland with numerous low hill
systems. No deserts or high mountains. Many rivers and streams, and swamps and
lagoons near eastern coast. Excellent drainage system throughout country.
6. LANGUAGES: Spanish, the official language, spoken almost universally.
Dialect in common use influenced by Italian vocabulary and pronounciation.
Knowledge of English increasing among educated groups.
7. RELIGION: Roman Catholicism, the professed religion of most of the
people. Church and state officially separate, and religious freedom
guaranteed. About 4 percent of population, Protestant or Jewish.
8. EDUCATION: In 1968 about 600,000 students enrolled in schools at all
levels, a large majority in free public system. In late 1960s average amount
of schooling for those 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 hospital facilities, government
operated. Number and quality of medical 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 contribute to
general health of population.
10. CLIMATE: Temperate, with moderate seasonal changes and little
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 temperatures virtually unknown.
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 Constitution. Tribunal of Accounts appointed
by General Assembly to supervise 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 controlled 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: Light industry predominant; processing of agricultural and
animal products accounts for about half of manufacturing output. Industri