(De)politicising Argentinian cultural policy? an analysis of Macri’s cultural policy (2015–19)

Abstract

ABSTRACT How can the “political dimension” of cultural policies in Argentina during Macri’s term be analysed? Politicisation is understood as a “mechanism of (re)qualification of activity and/or an attempt to exceed the limits of the sectorisation of activities”. Whether social or cultural, activities are qualified as political, and thus disqualified by some members of Macri’s government. To what extent has the “requalification” of the socio-cultural programme Puntos de Cultura’s objectives, and activities by the Ministry of Culture’s executives, affected the programme’s functioning during this term? Is the cultural policy carried out by Cambiemos free of politicisation? To answer the above, the article begins with the general aims of Argentinian cultural policy since the mid-2000s, and the origins, functioning and team of Puntos de Cultura, a programme deemed highly – and problematically – politicised by members of the government.