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The failure of the Czechoslovak colonies in Latin America. The case of Guatemala and Mexico

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2019

Abstract

Czechoslovak emigration to the Americas is a phenomenon that began after the revolutionary year 1848. It should be noted that most of the emigrants ended up in the United States, but at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, new currents appeared to the states in the south of the continent.

Among them were countries such as Brazil and Argentina. However, several of them have never attracted new settlers.

Among them we can especially mention Mexico and Guatemala. It is very surprising when we consider that in the interwar period both governments supported the creation of foreign communities in their territories.

The Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry also authorized several colonization projects. The presented paper analyzes these purposes to create the Czechoslovak colonies in northern Latin America and present the answer to the question, why they were not successful.

It will be based on archival material located in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Genaro Estrada Historical Archive in Mexico City.