JESUIT REDUCTIONS AS A SYSTEM: A NECESSARY REVIEW

Abstract

Part of this article was originally presented at the 1st International Seminar on Preservation of Cultural Heritage in the Trinational Territory, in 2018. The theme of V!RUS 22, “Latin America: You Are Here!”, is an opportunity to re-introduce results of the master's research “Jesuit Reductions as a System”, developed at the Nomads.usp and funded by the Sao Paulo State Agency for Research Funding, FAPESp.The thesis was defended in 2014 in the Graduate Program in Architecture and Urbanism, Institute of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo. To understand the historical importance of the series of Thirty Jesuit Reductions of the former Jesuit Province of Paraguay, the research carried out three chronological sections. 1. the beginning of the reductions, when they were a set of mutual assistance; 2. the present, when the material and immaterial remnants preserve regional memory and history, but the separation by international borders is at the origin of the lack of communication between the responsible national bodies and the little online dissemination of relevant and official information; and 3. the future, identifying that regionally integrated dissemination and preservation can enhance the understanding and appreciation of the jesuit reductions, including greater ownership of local communities. We understand that valuing the reductions heritage supposes to stimulate preservation agencies to work together and most of all, with local communities.