Populism and Ethnicity: Peronism and the Jews of Argentina by Raanan Rein

Abstract

Reviewed by: Populism and Ethnicity: Peronism and the Jews of Argentina by Raanan Rein Valeria Navarro-Rosenblatt (bio) Populism and Ethnicity: Peronism and the Jews of Argentina. By Raanan Rein. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2020. 296 pp. Populism and Ethnicity is a translation of Raanan Rein's book Los Muchachos Peronistas Judíos (2015). The Spanish title reminds the readers of a song, "Los Muchachos Peronistas," a Peronist march by an unknown author that transformed a popular soccer song into a political anthem. By using this reference to open his book and present his research, Rein brings to the fore an argument that drives the entire volume: Jews were part of Peronism, despite the myths surrounding the figure of Perón. Remember that in Argentinean history, the figure of Perón has defined Argentinian politics since 1945, evoking a deep commitment or profound rejection and becoming a rift within Argentine society. Jews, as members of the Argentine community, were as committed and involved as any other group of Argentinians. But, just like there were hundreds of young Jews deeply engaged, there were those who distrusted the new movement and government, those who distanced themselves from Perón when a coup d'etat overthrew his government. In Populism and Ethnicity, Rein revisits eleven myths relating to Perón's position towards Jewish-Argentinians, especially in relation to his supposed antisemitism and the Nazi influence after the Second World War. Rein refutes each of these myths through various sources that broaden the scope of the Argentinean Jewish community. He emphasizes unaffiliated Jewish Argentineans, who have been minimized or excluded from previous historical research on Jewish-Argentinean history. In his work, Rein presents two types of myths: those regarding Argentinian society's relation to Jews, antisemitism, and Nazism; and those related to how the Jewish community, Jews and Israel acted toward Perón and the regime. [End Page 318] In the first four chapters of the book, Rein deconstructs the idea that Perón was a Nazi and a fascist. He depicts him as a nationalist with authoritarian elements. His regime and persona were heterogeneous, combining diverse ideologies and political influences that shaped his movement. Rein emphasizes that neither Perón, his wife Evita Perón, nor his two governments were antisemitic. Furthermore, Perón made multiple statements against antisemitism. Rein finds the explanation to these set of myths by reminding us of the long-standing economic rivalry between the US and Argentina in contextualizing Perón's international decisions. Argentina was one of the many countries that sought to recruit scientists, technicians, and experts in general from Germany in the hopes of contributing to the enhancement of the country. As far back as the nineteenth century the Argentinean elite's preference was for northern Europeans, including Germans. Rein also explains how most of the Nazis who arrived in Argentina managed to emigrate by buying visas, and even through false documents and identities, rather than with the control or agency of Perón's government. All these elements bring nuance to the stance that Perón himself or his regime sympathized with Nazis, reminding us that depending on whose perspective we use, the history of Perón's government can look significantly different. The second part of Rein's book examines how different sectors of Jewish society engaged with the Peronist government. From intellectuals to media entrepreneurs, from unionists to businessmen, the support for Peron had several outlets, including newspapers, radio, and, later, television. In the sixth chapter he discusses the role of businessmen and Jewish unionists. Rein directs our gaze toward those working-class Jewish Argentineans, ignored and unaccounted for in previous historical research, who supported Perón from the beginning of Peronism. Additionally, Rein presents different Jewish union leaders to show the movement's openness toward ethnic groups and minorities, allowing them to be part of Peronism as Jewish-Argentines. Populism and Ethnicity reconstructs and highlights new aspects of Perón's government. Rein's emphasis on instances where the regime showed acceptance and inclusiveness toward minorities is particularly important. In Rein's words, the "Peronist ambition of protecting the rights of minorities and weak, marginal groups from the...