Two Causes that led to Authoritarian State
The Political Failures of the Concordancia Government
The 'Infamous Decade' (1932-43) was a period of political and economical instability due to the chaotic leadership of the Concordancia. The Concordancia was a collection of government parties that controlled the population through repression. All of the leaders that took control during this period came to office through coups d'etat or fraud in elections. The Argentinian people had little faith in the government and their leaders and wanted something radical to change. During the months prior to Perón's coup that put him in power, Argentina was lead by Ramón Castillo, who was the successor to Robert Ortiz. Neither Ortiz nor Castillo were well liked by the general population in Argentina and did little domestically to impact the peoples opinions of them. Ultimately the Concordancia Government that was put in place in 1932 was not successful and created the perfect grounds of conflict and radical changes in Argentina.
The Rise of Argentinian Nationalism
During the 40s there was a massive rise of cultural and economic nationalism in Argentina, which was heavily influenced by people such as Raul S. Ortiz. The cultural nationalism in Argentina was also impacted greatly by the peoples desire to prevent the British from meddling with Argentinian affairs and a want to become independent of other countries. Economic nationalism derived from similar roots. The general population wanted to become economically independent of the British but the government could not stop relying on the British for fear of economic collapse. Argentinian Nationalism was only aggravated during World War II when the government decided to become neutral during the war. This caused fear that the government was moving quickly towards extreme conservatism.
The 'Infamous Decade' (1932-43) was a period of political and economical instability due to the chaotic leadership of the Concordancia. The Concordancia was a collection of government parties that controlled the population through repression. All of the leaders that took control during this period came to office through coups d'etat or fraud in elections. The Argentinian people had little faith in the government and their leaders and wanted something radical to change. During the months prior to Perón's coup that put him in power, Argentina was lead by Ramón Castillo, who was the successor to Robert Ortiz. Neither Ortiz nor Castillo were well liked by the general population in Argentina and did little domestically to impact the peoples opinions of them. Ultimately the Concordancia Government that was put in place in 1932 was not successful and created the perfect grounds of conflict and radical changes in Argentina.
The Rise of Argentinian Nationalism
During the 40s there was a massive rise of cultural and economic nationalism in Argentina, which was heavily influenced by people such as Raul S. Ortiz. The cultural nationalism in Argentina was also impacted greatly by the peoples desire to prevent the British from meddling with Argentinian affairs and a want to become independent of other countries. Economic nationalism derived from similar roots. The general population wanted to become economically independent of the British but the government could not stop relying on the British for fear of economic collapse. Argentinian Nationalism was only aggravated during World War II when the government decided to become neutral during the war. This caused fear that the government was moving quickly towards extreme conservatism.
Two Aims
Social Justice
Throughout Perón rise to power and during his leadership, the topic of 'social justice' was a very prominent feature in his speeches, writings, propaganda, and other forms of communication. To remove the huge gaps in the social classes in Argentina, Perón believed that the state should share and distribute the wealth throughout.
Source A: In our trade unionist work – says a metallurgic worker – we witnessed incredible things as from 1944: the labour legislation which in the past had not been regarded was now respected; there was no need to go to Court to obtain holidays; other labour legislation such as the recognition of factory representatives and the reassurance that they would not be fired, etc, etc had immediate and rigorous enforcement. Internal relations between industrialists and workers completely changed in nature. Owners were disconcerted while the workers were astonished and cheerful. The Secretariat of Labour and Welfare had become a power for the organization, development and support of the working class. It did not operate as a state regulation above the classes, but rather as a state ally of the working class.
Translated from Hugo del Campo, Sindicalismo y Peronismo: Los comienzos de un vínculo perdurable, 1983
Political Sovereignty
Due to the conflict of the years prior to Perón's leadership, it was decided that the state needed to have a more prominent role in all of the social classes in Argentina. Before the 1943 military coup, the government had only represented the interest of the landowners and disregard what others, of lower class standing, needed. Thus, Perón proposed a change. He wanted the state to come before all classes and not represent a specific group entirely. Perón also believed that it was the role of the state to determine the aims of a country and how resources were to be delegated, not the richest class of citizens. Under Perón, the government of Argentina played a more active role in social and economical developments and mediated, when necessary.
Source B: "[The aim is to} improve the standards of lining of the workers but without tolerating social conflict... I shall not allow free reign to the agents of destruction and unrest, who are often not even Argentines but foreigners. I have working class issues completely under control, not by force but through agreements. Don't believe we are anti-capitalists. We are not."
From a statement by Juan Perón in November 1943, quoted by David Rock, Authoritarian Argentina: The Nationalist Movement, its History and its Impact, 1993
Throughout Perón rise to power and during his leadership, the topic of 'social justice' was a very prominent feature in his speeches, writings, propaganda, and other forms of communication. To remove the huge gaps in the social classes in Argentina, Perón believed that the state should share and distribute the wealth throughout.
Source A: In our trade unionist work – says a metallurgic worker – we witnessed incredible things as from 1944: the labour legislation which in the past had not been regarded was now respected; there was no need to go to Court to obtain holidays; other labour legislation such as the recognition of factory representatives and the reassurance that they would not be fired, etc, etc had immediate and rigorous enforcement. Internal relations between industrialists and workers completely changed in nature. Owners were disconcerted while the workers were astonished and cheerful. The Secretariat of Labour and Welfare had become a power for the organization, development and support of the working class. It did not operate as a state regulation above the classes, but rather as a state ally of the working class.
Translated from Hugo del Campo, Sindicalismo y Peronismo: Los comienzos de un vínculo perdurable, 1983
Political Sovereignty
Due to the conflict of the years prior to Perón's leadership, it was decided that the state needed to have a more prominent role in all of the social classes in Argentina. Before the 1943 military coup, the government had only represented the interest of the landowners and disregard what others, of lower class standing, needed. Thus, Perón proposed a change. He wanted the state to come before all classes and not represent a specific group entirely. Perón also believed that it was the role of the state to determine the aims of a country and how resources were to be delegated, not the richest class of citizens. Under Perón, the government of Argentina played a more active role in social and economical developments and mediated, when necessary.
Source B: "[The aim is to} improve the standards of lining of the workers but without tolerating social conflict... I shall not allow free reign to the agents of destruction and unrest, who are often not even Argentines but foreigners. I have working class issues completely under control, not by force but through agreements. Don't believe we are anti-capitalists. We are not."
From a statement by Juan Perón in November 1943, quoted by David Rock, Authoritarian Argentina: The Nationalist Movement, its History and its Impact, 1993
Perón's Ideology
Perón focused on obtaining social justice, political sovereignty, and economic stability for Argentina but rejected the extremes or capitalism and communism. Perón's ideology also focuses heavily of the the growth of Argentinian nationalism and to a great extent is considered to have populist ideals.
Source C: "Peronism is humanism in action; Peronism is a new political doctrine, which rejects all the ills of the politics of previous times; in the social sphere it is a theory which establishes a little equality among men, which grants them similar opportunities and assures them of a future so that in this land there may be no one who lacks what he needs for a living, even though it may be necessary that those who are wildly squandering what they possess may be deprived of the right to do so, for the benefit of those who have nothing at all... That is Peronism. And Peronism is not learned, nor just talked about: one feels it or else disagrees. Peronism is a question of the heart rather than of the head."
From a speech by Juan D. Perón, 20 August 1948
Source C: "Peronism is humanism in action; Peronism is a new political doctrine, which rejects all the ills of the politics of previous times; in the social sphere it is a theory which establishes a little equality among men, which grants them similar opportunities and assures them of a future so that in this land there may be no one who lacks what he needs for a living, even though it may be necessary that those who are wildly squandering what they possess may be deprived of the right to do so, for the benefit of those who have nothing at all... That is Peronism. And Peronism is not learned, nor just talked about: one feels it or else disagrees. Peronism is a question of the heart rather than of the head."
From a speech by Juan D. Perón, 20 August 1948
To What Extent Did Perón Achieve Totalitarian Rule?
Due to Perón's blind support from the Argentinian citizens, it is cleat that he achieved a totalitarian government to a great extent. Perón was able to control the people and shape Argentina to the way he desired but did not require the use of force that other dictators such as Stalin had used in the past. Perón support from the people significantly impacted his position of power and allowed him to exploit any of Argentina's resources in the name of "social justice", "political sovereignty", and much more.