As summarised in “Ecuador country profile” (updated August 2012), Ecuador is comprised of a multi-cultural series of communities, including peoples whose origins are Spanish, as well as people descended from slaves imported from Africa. This paper provides a range of information about this South American country, which is bordered by Colombia to the North, Peru to the South and East, and has a Pacific coastline to the West.
History and Culture
Originally populated by mixture of groups each with their own cultures, Ecuador became dominated by the Aztecs around 1450 AD (Ecuador History & Culture, 2010). Then in 1526 the first Spanish invaders came ashore and by 1533 had captured and killed the Inca leader Atahualpa, which brought to an end the reign of the Inca Empire. During the total period of 280 years under Spanish control, Christianity was brought to the country, as was a feudal system that left the indigenous peoples deeply in debt to their Spanish masters. In that era, vast country estates were established, owned by just a small number of Spanish families.
Over time, opposition to the regime grew, until in 1822 it was defeated by forces under Antonio Sucre. Ecuador became a part of Colombia, and then in 1830 achieved full independence. In the ensuing period numerous disputes resulted in regime changes, which included dictatorships, juntas and then democracy. Ecuador has since been fairly peaceful and has a U.S. style regime with a Congress, Senators, and Presidential elections every four years.
In terms of the culture, the same article (Ecuador History & Culture, 2010) reported that the present population of Ecuador comprises about 50 percent mestizos (people of mixed Amerindian and Spanish roots), about 25 percent Amerindians, whites of Spanish origin (seven percent), and blacks three percent. Of the Indians in the population, there some 14 different groups, of which the largest numbers are Andean Quichuas, who have their own language and a culture stretching back to the Inca era, and traditional dress that features regional variations. Other native groups include various tribes in the Amazon regions, including the Shuar, infamously once known as being head-shrinkers.
The article reported that the coastal region and the northern part of Ecuador are home to the Afro-Ecuadorian segment of the population and that there is a large difference in cultures between those areas and the central sierra part of Ecuador. Arising out of that rich cultural mix, “Ecuador History & Culture” noted that Ecuador is the source of interesting craft items, including the original Panama hat. The indigenous peoples produce woven items tailored for modern tastes but retaining their well-known traditional features. Items available in addition to woven products include carved-wood souvenirs, paintings, silver goods including jewellery and even figures made from bread. The country enjoys numerous fiestas and religious holidays, including no less than four different days on which independence is commemorated.
Ecuador Geography
“Ecuador – GEOGRAPHY” (n.d.) described Ecuador as one of the smaller South American countries, having a total area (including the Galapagos Islands) of around 280,000 square kilometres – approximately the same size as the U.S. state of Colorado. It is situated on the equator on the western coast of South America. It has a variety of climates and natural areas, ranging from the flat areas of the Amazon basin and the desert regions of the southern coastal section to the snowy heights of the Andes mountain range, reaching up to over 6,000 metres. The article classified Ecuador as comprising three mainland regions: “the Costa, Sierra, and Oriente” plus the Galapagos Islands, which are situated some 1,000 kilometres west of mainland Ecuador.
Each region has factors that affect and thus determine its climate. The Costa region is strongly influenced by the temperatures of the offshore ocean currents and is generally tropical, the average temperatures varying from south to north (about 23 degrees to 26 degrees respectively). The northern section has the most rainfall and has tropical rainforest, whereas the south is much drier and is mostly desert. In contrast to the Costas region, the Sierra region has climate variations determined by the altitude, progressing from a tropical climate with a lot of rain, through variations including a temperate level in which the majority of the population lives, up to the highest levels in the Andes where temperatures reach only about three degrees maximum and the peaks are permanently covered in snow and ice.
Ecuador’s Society
“Ecuador – Society” (n.d.) described the country as still having deep divisions in its society as recently as the 1980’s, partly due to the three principal geographic regions of the country having different histories and economies. It also mentioned the rise of a middle class at that time, effectively creating a society that had a small but privileged elite, then a much larger and diverse middle class that were active in politics, and a large mass of poor peasants and manual workers. The article claimed it was that middle class in their society that brought about changes in the political scene in Ecuador. Due to agricultural legislation and “reforms” many Ecuadorian workers migrated to the cities, until by the early years of the 1980’s decade, almost 50 percent of all Ecuadorians had become city dwellers.
The Ecuadorian Economy
An article on the Index Mundi website entitled “Ecuador Economy Profile 2012” (July 2012) revealed that Ecuador’s economy depends substantially on petroleum revenues, which in recent years have accounted for over half their export income and circa 40 percent of public sector income. Following a severe economic crisis in 1999/2000, the country adopted the U.S. dollar as legal tender, which helped to bring back stability followed by good growth, then in December 2008 the country defaulted on around 30 percent of its external debts. Events following that resulted in a period of almost zero growth, but Ecuador has since returned to a period of better growth, now with extra income from loans negotiated with China – Ecuador’s primary lender – which has helped the government maintain public sector spending levels.
Government and Politics
“Government and Politics” (n.d.) published by the U.S. Library of Congress, described Ecuador as “one of the least politically stable of the South American republics for most of its history” noting that it had 86 governments and 17 constitutions in its first 159 years of independence, including only twenty coming from elections, of which many were “fraudulent.” It was not until the 1980’s that a relatively stable political system came about. Since then there have been a number of internal conflicts, with Ecuador still having a somewhat unstable regime.
Ecuador’s National Security
The article “Ecuador – NATIONAL Security” related that as of 1988/1989, the country had approximately 49,000 serving personnel in the armed forces. The military command had divided the country into several defense zones, four for the army, three for the navy and two for the air force. These were further subdivided on a functional basis. For example the navy had eight units such as a destroyer division, submarine squadrons and others, including the coastguard. Some of their equipment was reasonably modern and sophisticated. For example the navy possessed Exocet missiles and the air force had British Jaguars and Israeli Kfirs. Internal security is provided by a National Police force estimated at 18,000 men and subdivided into various technical and functional units including support directorates.
References:
“Ecuador country profile.” (Updated August 2012). BBC News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1212882.stm
“Ecuador Economy Profile 2012.” (July 2012). Index Mundi (sourced from the CIA World Factbook). Retrieved from http://www.indexmundi.com/ecuador/economy_profile.html
“Ecuador – GEOGRAPHY.” (n.d.). Country Studies Program, The Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/ecuador/GEOGRAPHY.html
“Ecuador History & Culture.” (2010). Select Latin America. Retrieved from http://www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk/destinations/ecuador/history
“Ecuador – NATIONAL SECURITY.” (n.d.). Mongabay.com. Retrieved from http://www.mongabay.com/history/ecuador/ecuador-national_security.html
“Ecuador – Society.” (n.d.). Country Studies Program, The Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/ecuador/SOCIETY.html
“Government and Politics.” (n.d.). U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://countrystudies.us/ecuador/56.htm
