WI: Oil in the Gran Chaco

Onyx

Banned
This may be ASBish, but I'd like to see a challenge for this

During the early 1930’s, it was believed that the Chaco was rich in oil. And, oil companies, began exploration of the area. As a result of competition over profits of a potential oil strike, the Chaco War broke out between Paraguay and Bolivia

At the time, Bolivia owned more of the Chaco than Paraguay. But, as a result of their defeat, Bolivia ceded their portion of the region over to Paraguay.

Although, hostilities between the two countries continued and didn’t cease until the search for oil proved futile.

So, the Challenge is, To find a way to place Oil in the Chaco
and the WI is if there was Oil in the Valley?
 

Markus

Banned
It seems the disputed parts of the Chaco were retained fully by Paraguay and Bolivia did not cede anything. Furthermore the war was over for years when it was confirmed there was no oil. To keep it going one would have to actully find it before or during the war. But even then it does not change the logistical shortcomming of the Bolivians that played a key role in their defeat(s).
 

Onyx

Banned
It seems the disputed parts of the Chaco were retained fully by Paraguay and Bolivia did not cede anything. Furthermore the war was over for years when it was confirmed there was no oil. To keep it going one would have to actully find it before or during the war. But even then it does not change the logistical shortcomming of the Bolivians that played a key role in their defeat(s).

No, what I meant was what if there was Oil in the Chaco? And if Paraguay won, what would happen...
 
No, what I meant was what if there was Oil in the Chaco? And if Paraguay won, what would happen...


First, there is oil in the region. The sliver Bolivia was able to keep is the center of that nation's oil and gas industry today.

Second, Paraguay did win the war.

So, what are you asking?
 

Onyx

Banned
First, there is oil in the region. The sliver Bolivia was able to keep is the center of that nation's oil and gas industry today.

Second, Paraguay did win the war.

So, what are you asking?

What if there as Oil in the Paraguayan Region? There wasnt any, making it a useless war where many died for a lost cause.

So what would happen if there was Oil in the Region that Paraguay controlled after the War?
 
There wasnt any, making it a useless war where many died for a lost cause.


It was a useless war on one level and it wasn't a useless war on another level. As hard as it is to understand for us in 2010 rushing towards Peak Oil, oil was neither the sole or primary reason for Bolivia provoking the war. Instead, access to the ocean was the primary reason behind the conflict. Oil wasn't even mentioned until after Bolivia lost.

Bolivia had been landlocked since losing the guano wars against Chile in the 1870s and it wanted desperately to control an outlet, any outlet, to the sea. With the Chaco basically uninhabited, or uninhabited by anyone who counted at the time, Bolivia thought it could perform a quick landgrab which would give it control of the mouth of the Pilcomayo River where it enters the Paraguay River. That would give Bolivia a deep water river port which accessed the South Atlantic via the Plata.

Paraguay was understandably upset with this landgrab. First, the Chaco belonged to Paraguay and that nation had lost over a third of it's territory in the truly idiotic War of the Triple Alliance. Second, the point where the Pilcomayo flows into the Paraguay also happens to be within shouting distance of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.

So, one nation went to war for access to the sea, another went to war to preserve it's territorial integrity, and oil was used as an excuse after the fact.

So what would happen if there was Oil in the Region that Paraguay controlled after the War?

Oil is more often a cruse than a boon to developing nations. Just what effect oil in the Paraguayan Chaco would have would depend on when it was found.

If there were proven oil reserves before the war, Paraguay could have purchased more arms, fought longer, and forced more concessions from Bolivia at the negotiating table.

If oil was discovered after the war, Paraguay may have seen a slight boost to it's economy and Bolivia may have come back for a second round.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
If there was oil, the conflict would probably be larger. Bolivia was at the time backed by Brazil, while Argentina backed Paraguay in the conflict.
 
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