Juan Peron as president in Argentina

Juan Peron was the president of Argentina from 1946–52, 1952–55, 1973–74. He was originally an army colonel who then went into presidency.

Juan increased labor wages and enacted a social legislation that got the urban workers on his side. Trade unions grew in members in this time period. Since they liked him they help him when the election of 1946 by overwhelming numbers. He allowed them concrete benefits and a voice in the government to keep their interest.

Peron’s reasons for gaining power can be found in the discontent of the Argentineans with the Concordancia governments (1932 – 43). “These governments were characterized by political fraud and economic growth.  However, economic growth, achieved by significant dependency on the British, continued the traditional export-import economic model and served to a large extent the interests of the estanciero elite and foreign business.  Politically, the Concordancia did not satisfy the urban middle classes or the now numerous and active trade unions.  The early 1940s saw a rise of cultural and economic nationalism.  The cultural nationalism of the intellectuals denounced the intervention of Britain in Argentine affairs, and found an echo among the ordinary citizens of Argentina, particularly in Buenos Aires.  The outbreak of the Second World War gave further impulse to nationalism and extended to economic affairs.  Nationalists argued for a policy of state led industrialization to produce the goods that could no longer be exported and to lessen the economy’s reliance on exports.  The critical impulse, however, came with the conversion of the armed forces to economic nationalism as a result of a dispute with the USA over a pan-American alliance against the Axis powers.  In 1943 the armed forces overthrew the government.  Among the junior officers in the new regime was Perón, who as minister of labour and later as vice-president of the military government built up a power base from which he launched a nationalistic project for Argentina.” (sweetibnotes).

The nature and effectiveness of Juan Peron was this: He wanted to reduce foreign influence on economy, build a “New Argentina” with social justice, and have economic prosperity. He managed to create a broad political alliance, he managed to keep power in 1946 and 1951, he nationalized foreign docks etc.

Peron in the 20^th century: “Answers should include a notion of the political response to the socioeconomic changes experienced in the area during the 1930s (urbanization, economic  instability, nationalism, political awareness of classes not included  in political process);  and multi-class “popular alliances” to achieve power.  Typical examples: Juan Perón in Argentina during 1940s; in Brazil, Brazil’s Estado Novo and Getúlio Vargas during the late 1930s and Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico during the same period.  Main characteristics to be discussed: role of charismatic leadership, semi-authoritarian rule (coalition against a particular set of interests that was prevented from participation); representation of class interests that were bound to conflict with each other.  Other countries can be used as examples but specific conditions of the given country are a must.  Analytical answers should be rewarded.  Marks will depend on the depth of the comments and examples.”