Argentina Study_1.pdf - Marine Corps

235 Pages·2007·4.29 MB·English

area handbook series
Argentina
a country study
:
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Argentina
a country study
Foreign Area Studies
The American University
Edited by
James D. Rudolph
Research completed
August 1985
On the cover: Gaucho tending cattle
Third Edition, 1985; First Printing, 1986
Copyright © 1985 United States Government as represented by the
Secretary of the Army. All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Argentina, a country study.
(Area handbook series)
"Research completed August 1985."
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Argentina. I. Rudolph, James D., 1947—
II. American University (Washington, D.C.). Foreign
Area Studies. III. Series.
F2808.A6537 1985 982 86—3616
Headquarters, Department of the Army
DA Pam 550-73
Forsale by the SuperintendentofDocuments,U.S.GovernmentPrinting Office
Washington, DC. 21)102
Foreword
This volume is one of a continuing series of books pre-
pared by Foreign Area Studies, The American University,
under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program. The last
page of this book provides a listing of other published studies.
Each book in the series deals with a particular foreign country,
describing and analyzing its economic, national security, politi-
cal, and social systems and institutions and examining the inter-
relationships of those systems and institutions and the ways
that they are shaped by cultural factors. Each study is written
by a multidisciplinary team of social scientists. The authors
seek to provide a basic insight and understanding of the society
under observation, striving for a dynamic rather than a static
portrayal of it. The study focuses on historical antecedents and
on the cultural, political, and socioeconomic characteristics
that contribute to cohesion and cleavage within the society.
Particular attention is given to the origins and traditions of the
people who make up the society, their dominant beliefs and
values, their community of interests and the issues on which
they are divided, the nature and extent of their involvement
with the national institutions, and their attitudes toward each
other and toward the social system and political order within
which they live.
The contents of the book represent the views, opinions,
and findings of Foreign Area Studies and should not be con-
strued as an official Department of the Army position, policy,
or decision, unless so designated by other official documenta-
tion. The authors have sought to adhere to accepted standards
of scholarly objectivity. Such corrections, additions, and sug-
gestions for factual or other changes that readers may have will
be welcomed for use in future new editions.
The Director
Foreign Area Studies
The American University
5010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
111

Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to numerous individuals who con-
tributed their time, research materials, and special knowledge
of Argentine affairs to this study. Special thanks are owed to
the late Roberto Etchepareborda, who consulted with the au-
thors during the initial stage of research, and Jack Child, who
provided valuable comments on the draft manuscripts. The
inclusion of photographs in this study was made possible by the
generosity of various individuals, libraries, and private and
public agencies.
The authors also wish to express their gratitude to mem-
bers of the Foreign Area Studies staff who contributed directly
to the preparation of the manuscript. These include Andrea T.
Merrill, Catherine L. Connor, Dorothy Lohmann, and Denise
R. Barber, who edited the manuscript; Gustavo Adolfo Mendo-
za, who designed the cover and the illustrations for the title
page of each chapter and, along with Harriett R. Blood, pre-
pared the graphics; Gilda V. Nimer, Lynn W. Dorn, and Karen
Leitch, librarians; and Beverly A. Johnson and Cynthia A. Stan-
ley, who photoset the manuscript. The assistance of Ernest A.
Will, publications manager, and Wayne W. Olsen, administra-
tive assistant, is also appreciated. The study was indexed by
Beverly Mohamed.
V

.
Contents
Page
iii
Foreword
Acknowledgments v
Preface xi
Country Profile xix
Introduction xxv
Chapter 1. Historical Setting
Elizabethde Lima-Dantas
DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION, 1492-1810—The
Native Peoples of Argentina—Spain's Expanding Fron-
tiers—Discovery and Occupation—Colonial Administra-
tion—Socioeconomic Structures—The Viceroyalty of the
Rio de la Plata—The Dawn of Independence—INDE-
PENDENCE AND FIRST ATFEMPTS AT NATIONAL
CONSOLIDATION, 1810-29—The Revolution of
1810—The Revolutionary Assembly of 1813—The Unit-
ed Provinces of South America—Unitarians and Federal-
ists—Gauchos and Caudillos—THE DICTATORSHIP
OF ROSAS, 1829-52—NATIONAL CONSOLIDATION
AND EUROPEANIZATION, 1852-80—The 1853 Con-
stitution and the Argentine Nation—The Paraguayan
War, 1865-70—"Facundo" Versus "Martin Fierro"—A
NEW ERA FOR ARGENTINA, 1880-1930—Revolution
on the Pampas, 1880-1914—The Oligarchy, 1880-
19 16—The Road to Popular Democracy—The Radical
Administration, 1916-30—CONSERVATIVE RESTORA-
TION, 1930-46—Aftermath of Depression, 1930-43—
National Revolution, 1943-46—ARGENTINA UNDER
PERON, 1946-55—Perón's First Presidency, 1946-51—
Perón's Second Administration, 1952-55—"REVOLU-
TIONARY" ARGENTINA, 1955-72—The Liberating
Revolution, 1955-66—The Argentine Revolution, 1966-
72—THE PERONIST RESTORATION, 1973-76—THE
NATIONAL REORGANIZATION PROCESS, 1976-83—
The Military in Power—The South Atlantic War and Its
Aftermath
...
Chapter 2. The Society and Its Environment 81
Jorge P. Osterling
TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE—The Northwest—
Cuyo—Gran Chaco—Mesopotamia—Greater Buenos
Aires and the Littoral—The Pampas—Patagonia—ETH-
NIC CATEGORIES AND POPULATION—The Native
Argentines—The European Immigrants—Internal Mi-
gration—Immigrants from Neighboring Countries—Mid-
vii
1980s Demographic Trends—SOCIAL STRATIFICA-
TION—Income Distribution—The Upper Class—The
Middle Class—The Lower Class—EDUCATION—Low-
er-Level Education—Higher Education—HEALTH
AND WELFARE—RELIGION
Chapter 3. The Economy 125
RobertS. Noth
GROWTH AND STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY—
LABOR FORCE—INDUSTRY—Public Industrial Poli-
cies—Energy—Mining—Manufacturing—TRANSPOR-
TATION—AGRICULTURE—Public Agricultural Poli-
cies—Land Use—Crops—Livestock—Fishing—
FINANCIAL SYSTEM—PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCE—
FOREIGN DEBT—TRADE—BALANCE OF PAY-
MENTS
Chapter 4. Government and Politics 201
CraigH. Robinson
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE—Constitutional Back-
ground—_Executive—Legislature—Judiciary_Local
Government—Elections—POLITICAL MENTAL-
ITIES—Conservatism-—Radicalism—-Nationalism—Per-
onism—INSTITUTIONAL ACTORS—Political Parties—
Business Groups—Labor Groups—The Military as a Po-
litical Force—Mass Media—THE POLITICS OF DEMO-
CRATIC RESTORATION—The End of Military Rule—
The Radical Government of Ratil AlfonsIn—FOREIGN
RELATIONS—History and General Principles—Rela-
tions with Britain—Relations with the United States—
Relations with Other Countries
Chapter 5. National Security 275
Phyllis Greene Walker
BACKGROUND AND TRADITIONS OF THE ARMED
FORCES—The Armed Forces' Origins—San Martin's
Legacy—The War with Brazil and the Creation of Uru-
guay—Anarchy Versus National Order—The War of the
Triple Alliance—Early Professionalization Efforts—Ger-
man Military Influence—The Modern Armed Forces—
The National Security Doctrine—CONSTITUTIONAL
PROVISIONS AND TREATY OBLIGATIONS—THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE ARMED FORCES—The Re-
organized Command Structure—Military Expendi-
tures—Operational Command, Deployment, and Equip-
men t —
vi"
Conscription and the Reserves—The Military Education
System—Officers' Insignia of Rank and Benefits—MILI-
TARY INDUSTRY AND EXPORTS—NUCLEAR DE-
VELOPMENT AND CAPABILITIES—THE SOUTH AT-
LANTIC WAR—THE WAR AGAINST SUBVERSION—
THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND INTERNAL
SECURITY
Appendix. Tables 335
Bibliography 345
Glossary 381
Index 385
List of Figures
1 Administrative Subdivisions, 1985 xxiv
2 Early Colonial Settlements and the Viceroyalty of the Rio de Ia Plata 14
3 Political Evolution of Argentina, 18 10-80 32
4 Terrain and Drainage 86
5 Regions 87
6 Population by Age and Sex, 1985 107
7 Transportation System, 1983 151
8 Officers'InsigniaofRank, 1985 317
ix