Nationalist trap and the Great War: Class interests behind Lula's historical take on Paraguay conflict

Brazilian President Lula da Silva's recent remarks on the origins of the Paraguayan War, also known as the "Guerra Grande," have ignited a discussion about the underlying class interests shaping historical narratives. Lula suggested Paraguay initiated the conflict by invading Brazil and Uruguay.

While it is factually accurate that Paraguayan forces crossed into Brazilian territory, capturing Corumbá in late 1864, and later occupied Argentine territory in 1865, the claim regarding Uruguay is contested. Historical records indicate that Paraguayan troops never set foot in Uruguay; their advance was halted after the Battle of Yatay in August 1865 and the subsequent capitulation at Uruguayana in September.

This historical clarification, presented by the article, suggests that while Paraguay did engage militarily with Brazil and Argentina, Lula's assertion that Paraguay "decided to attack its neighbors" on a whim oversimplifies a complex geopolitical situation. The article posits that a thorough understanding of the war's causes necessitates a deeper dive into historical context and interpretation, moving beyond a simple account of who initiated hostilities.

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We like peace. But we cannot forget that one fine day, Paraguay decided to invade Brazil. It invaded Corumbá. At the same time, it invaded Uruguay. At the same time, it invaded Argentina. And that war, which seemed like nothing, lasted five years. And that war must have consumed the equivalent of five national budgets of that time…