Argentina

THE ARGENTINEAN RIGHT is a form of opposition to democratization processes that has motivated reactionary political actions during the 20th century and continues to have an ongoing impact on the politics and social organization of the country. The right inherits key aspects of traditional colonial caudillismo, dwells on a peculiar totalitarian culture within the Catholic Church, and has been reinforced by militarism. It yields to the formation of several parties and gains newer cultural elements, especially in times of crisis.

The greater impact of the right in Argentina coincides with the cycles of military interventionism in the country, starting in 1880, passing through the crises in 1930 and 1953, and culminating in the military coup d'etat in 1976, before the return to democracy in 1983.

The role of conservatism in Argentina during the 19th century was defined by José Luis Romero in his book El Orden Conservador. He argued that conservatism can take different positions according to the need of the moment. Thus, conservatives could be provincial caudillos, who aimed at maintaining the old colonial order, or also liberal conservatives, who were [Page 525]influenced by the so-called generation from the 1880s and incorporated modern and positivist ideas into their political thinking. Therefore, students of the Argentine right have centered their attention on the merging of an extreme right in Argentina with nationalism, Catholicism, and fascism after the 1920s.

right-wing dictatorships have put argentina in harm's way, such as the ill-fated attempt to wrest control of britain's colony, the falkland islands, which argentina knows as the malvinas. the road sign above emphasized the government's rightist point of view.

The rise of the right in Argentina occurred after the election of Hypólito Yrigoyen in 1916. In opposition to Yrigoyen's social reforms and his party, the Unión Cívica Radical, the authoritarian right developed several lines of action. One was formed by the intellectuals Carlos Ibarguren, Leopoldo Lugones, and Manuel Gálvez, who published their ideas in La Nueva República and Nueva Orden, attacking democracy and defending fascism. Another line was represented by Catholic nationalism, which became popular between 1930 and 1943 through the movement called Catholic Action and the journal Criterio, which also defended nationalism.

A third line of action was provided by fascist groups such as the Argentinean Civic Legion (LCA), the Republican League, the Argentinean Nationalist Action (ANA), and other groups and parties such as the Fascist Party from Cordoba. Between 1930 and 1945, these groups tried to implement the ideas of Italian fascism, Spanish Francoism, and German national socialism in Argentina.

Nationalist populism is the most peculiar phenomenon in Argentinean political history, and cannot be related only to the political right, for it involved liberals, socialists, and the labor movement. However, right-wing elements of populism can be identified when they support oligarchism, integralism, fascism, and authoritarianism. This process cannot be understood without considering the multifarious role of Juan D. Peron.

Having participated in the Uriburu's revolution of 1930 as captain, by 1943 Peron had grown to the rank of colonel and was one of the most important officials in the army. He was able to use the military structure for his purposes. On the other hand, he had spent some time in Europe from 1938 to 1940, where he was influenced by the social changes in Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, and had traveled widely through Argentina, learning about the miserable conditions of the Argentinean “shirtless masses” (descamisados). Moreover, through his association with Eva Peron, he was able to appeal to the working classes. Evita, who died in 1952, became a legend due to her ascension from destitute woman to first lady. This sui generis combination was responsible for Peron's election in 1946. His program [Page 526]became known as a popular integral nationalism, which reunited distinct aspects such as corporate syndicalism, military bureaucracy, social-welfare reforms, and totalitarianism in a dictatorial regime.

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