AHC: More examples of Paraguayan style homogenization

[Rob]

The Paraguayan ruler Gaspar Francia mandated that Spanish creoles and Guarani Amerindians intermarry, during the 19th century. This resulted in basically a merger of the groups and not much in the way of white/mestizo/indian distinctions seen in other parts of Latin America. Both Spanish and Guarani remained national languages afterward

Where else might something like this compulsor interracial/inter4ethnic marriage have happened on this scale to result in homogenization of a whole nation's population?

And how did Gaspar Francia compel this? We tend to think of totalitarian states as a 20th century phenomenon, but it seems like a move that requires a totalitarian regime to accomplish.

[WolfBear]

Post by Rob
The Paraguayan ruler Gaspar Francia mandated that Spanish creoles and Guarani Amerindians intermarry, during the 19th century. This resulted in basically a merger of the groups and not much in the way of white/mestizo/indian distinctions seen in other parts of Latin America. Both Spanish and Guarani remained national languages afterward
Where else might something like this compulsor interracial/inter4ethnic marriage have happened on this scale to result in homogenization of a whole nation's population?
And how did Gaspar Francia compel this? We tend to think of totalitarian states as a 20th century phenomenon, but it seems like a move that requires a totalitarian regime to accomplish.

Interestingly enough, I could see a sufficiently radical socialist dictatorship attempting something like this. After all, if class trumps race/ethnicity, why not get rid of ethnic and racial divisions by legally mandating that everyone will intermarry?

[a***@gmail.com]

Post by Rob
The Paraguayan ruler Gaspar Francia mandated that Spanish creoles and Guarani Amerindians intermarry, during the 19th century. This resulted in basically a merger of the groups and not much in the way of white/mestizo/indian distinctions seen in other parts of Latin America. Both Spanish and Guarani remained national languages afterward
Where else might something like this compulsor interracial/inter4ethnic marriage have happened on this scale to result in homogenization of a whole nation's population?
And how did Gaspar Francia compel this? We tend to think of totalitarian states as a 20th century phenomenon, but it seems like a move that requires a totalitarian regime to accomplish.

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/soc.history.what-if/CWIic_ncdeI

[Pete Barrett]

Post by Rob
The Paraguayan ruler Gaspar Francia mandated that Spanish creoles and
Guarani Amerindians intermarry, during the 19th century. This resulted
in basically a merger of the groups and not much in the way of
white/mestizo/indian distinctions seen in other parts of Latin America.
Both Spanish and Guarani remained national languages afterward
Where else might something like this compulsor interracial/inter4ethnic
marriage have happened on this scale to result in homogenization of a
whole nation's population?

There are several states which have or have had an ethnicity problem,
where this sort of approach might work (though in most case it's unlikely
to be undertaken simply _because_ of the ethnic problems): US, Japan,
China, most of Africa, most of South America. (Note that this list does
not include countries where religion is an ethnic factor, such as
Northern Ireland or Israel - this sort of homogenisation wouldn't be
applicable there.)

Post by Rob
And how did Gaspar Francia compel this? We tend to think of totalitarian
states as a 20th century phenomenon, but it seems like a move that
requires a totalitarian regime to accomplish.

I don't know how he did it, but I can think of several ways that a modern
state might encourage, ethnic mixing, starting with higher child
allowance/tax incentives for mixed families (carrots are usually more
effective than sticks).