But the worst consequence of the war was the catastrophic loss of population. About the disaster suffered by the Paraguayans at the outcome of the war, William D. Rubinstein wrote: "The normal estimate is that of a Paraguayan population of somewhere between , and ,, only , survived the war, of whom only 28, were adult males. Paraguayan recruits during the Chaco war In the Liberal revolution against the rule of Colorados broke out.
The Liberal rule started a period of great political instability. Between and Paraguay had thirty-one presidents , most of whom were removed from office by force.
The unresolved border conflict with Bolivia over the Chaco region finally erupted in the early s in the Chaco War. After great losses Paraguay defeated Bolivia and established its sovereignty over most of the disputed Chaco region. After the war, military officers used popular dissatisfaction with the Liberal politicians to seize the power for themselves.
Dissatisfaction with his rule resulted in the Paraguayan civil war of Stroessner era, —[ edit ] See also: El Stronato Alfredo Stroessner , Paraguayan dictator from to A series of unstable governments ensued until the establishment in of the regime of dictator Alfredo Stroessner , who remained in office for more than three decades until Paraguay was modernized to some extent under Stroessner's regime, although his rule was marked by extensive human rights abuses. The dictator oversaw an era of economic expansion, but also had a poor human rights and environmental record see "Political History".
Paraguay actively participated in Operation Condor. After his overthrow, the Colorado continued to dominate national politics until The splits in the Colorado Party in the s, and the prevailing conditions — Stroessner's advanced age, the character of the regime, the economic downturn, and international isolation — were catalysts for anti-regime demonstrations and statements by the opposition prior to the general elections.
