Poverty and fragmentation. The social foundations of institutional mistrust in Paraguay

Abstract

This article analyzes the social and territorial conditions that sustain poverty and institutional distrust in Paraguay, based on a comparative study of two rural districts: Santa Rosa del Aguaray and San Juan Nepomuceno. It combines statistical and cartographic review with on-site observation and interview, the socio-spatial factors that shape poverty, social exclusion and the weakening of state legitimacy are examined. It is argued that poverty is not only explained by economic deprivation, but also by the fragility of social capital, community fragmentation and the lack of coordination of institutional attention, which limits access to public services and the exercise of rights. The study shows how the erosion of social solidarity with rural-urban migration and structural inequalities generate patterns of marginalization, weakening the capacity for collective action and social appropriation of public policies. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive policies that strengthen resource redistribution, public cohesion and trust.