A Sporting and Peronist Youth in the Making: The High School Students Union (UES) in Argentina (1952–1955)

Lucie Hémeury

doi:10.3389/fspor.2020.568282

Abstract

This article examines the history of the High School Secondary Students (Unión de Estudiantes Secundarios or UES), a sporting and cultural youth association created by the Peronist government in 1953. From its inception, this institution has been compared by sectors of the opposition to Fascist and Nazi youth organizations and accused of politically enlisting and morally corrupting Argentine youth. Based on institutional archives, UES publications and Perón's speeches, this study offers a contribution to the historiographical debates on the history of youth, sports and Peronism. It shows how the creation of the UES relates to the social, educational and sports policies of this regime. The article analyses the objectives pursued by the government, but also the limits and contradictions of this attempt to mobilize young people through sports activities.

Highlights

Between 1946 and 1955, the government led by Juan Domingo Perón implemented a wide-ranging sports policy
As sport was perceived as a fundamental element of education which contributed to the physical and moral development of young people, children and teenagers were primary targets of the measures adopted during this decade
Compared to the FEP, the High School Students Union (Unión de Estudiantes Secundarios or UES), the second Peronist sports institution created for young people, was a latecomer organization since it was founded in 1953 by the Minister of Education, Armando Méndez San Martín

Summary

A Sporting and Peronist Youth in the Making

Centre de Recherche et de Documentation des Amériques, Institut des Hautes Études d’Amérique latine, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France. This article examines the history of the High School Secondary Students (Unión de Estudiantes Secundarios or UES), a sporting and cultural youth association created by the Peronist government in 1953. From its inception, this institution has been compared by sectors of the opposition to Fascist and Nazi youth organizations and accused of politically enlisting and morally corrupting Argentine youth. UES publications and Perón’s speeches, this study offers a contribution to the historiographical debates on the history of youth, sports and Peronism.

INTRODUCTION

A MODEL ORGANIZATION AND A

A PARASTATAL ORGANIZATION

Findings

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT