Peronism Yesterday and Today

Abstract

The socialist content of populist mobilizations, the persistent efficacy of the urban guerrillas, and the contradictions that managing a dependent capitalist economy prod uces, are among the principal weaknesses of official Peronism today. The analysis of these phenomena is essential to an understanding of Peronism, especially as events sug gest that it is moving to a close. Alberto Ciria's essay provides background to Peronism. He is Associate Professor of Political Science at Simon Fraser University in Canada. Nan cy Hollander explores the background and ideology of Evita Perón and ties her analysis to Peronism today; she also examines the role of women in Argentina today. She teaches history at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Michael Dodson looks at the ac tivities of radical priests and their role in promoting the return of Peronism. He teaches political science at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. Finally, the commentary by Argentine sociologist Juan Carlos Torre, appeared in Pasado y Presente at the end of 1973. It is one of the very few commentaries on current working-class struggles by a competent observer. It reflects how the class struggles have moved to the center of Peronism, within the working-class movement itself as a struggle between the rank-and-file and the union bureaucracies. Not only is income redistribution more difficult for Peronism than it ever was before. It is not enough in terms of proletarian consciousness at this stage of develop ment. The inability to control the labor movement by persuasion or force is likely to speed up the historical closure of Peronism and open up the prospect of a more advanced revolu tionary movement. Juan Carlos Torre is a research sociologist at the Di Tella Institute in Buenos Aires. His essay was translated by Anna Marie Taylor of the Department of Span ish, University of Chicago.