Argentine Government Research Articles

Social Policies and Center-Right Governments in Argentina and Chile—ERRATUM

Social Policies and Center-Right Governments in Argentina and Chile—ERRATUM

Spotlight on early childhood education. A newspaper coverage analysis of universal preschool debate in Argentina

Throughout the past decade, the Argentinean government has lowered the starting age of compulsory education and early childhood education enrollment has been growing steadily. However, ECE services have evolved in a fragmented manner, leading to an unequal and inequitable scenario: while private education supports the largest part of the growth, children from low-income families are less likely to attend preschool and more likely to receive low-quality service. Through a newspaper coverage analysis, I explore how these problems are addressed in the public debate on universal preschool. Results show that the voices of policy-makers and “experts” are prominent while teachers’ and parents’ views are ignored; I found a widespread consensus for universal preschool and a scarcity of arguments against. I suggest the need to draw on research findings in ECE more critically and posit that the need to ensure high quality preschool for all children should be central in the debate.

Richard Jolly: naval medical officer who was decorated by both sides in the Falklands

At one point during his Royal Marine commando training in Lympstone in Devon in 1972 Rick Jolly felt totally defeated by the notoriously challenging assault course. After being encouraged by...

Reflections on My Lifetime Teacher: Dr. Willem J. Kolff.

Reflections on My Lifetime Teacher: Dr. Willem J. Kolff.

Abstract WP368: Stroke: Identifying the Educational Gap for Nurses in Argentina

Background and Issues: Providing nurses with stroke pathology, prevention and management training is essential to diminish the devastating outcomes that this pathology can have on a patient and family. After an overwhelming response to medical education, we identified the possible need for nursing stroke education in Argentina. Purpose: The purpose is to define the status of stroke education among acute care nurses in Argentina and determine the need for stroke educational programs. Methods: For customer discovery, 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted in person, via Skype and via telephone calls with Argentinean nurses, nurse managers, nurse administrators and government officials. Interview questions were guided towards methods of nursing education, evaluations of skills, professional development, means of personal education and opportunities for growth in nursing educational courses regarding stroke pathology, prevention, and management. Responses given by the interviewees were documented and recurring themes were noted. Results: We discovered that there are very few opportunities for nursing continuing education without formal pursuit of a graduate degree. Bedside acute care nurses must seek out conferences or symposiums for topics of educational interest that are directed to physicians. All of our interviewees were in agreement that there is a need and desire toward stroke educational programs, including pathology, prevention and management. One of the recurring themes that was noted was the desire and need for nursing tailored education. Conclusions: Currently no continuing stroke educational programs are provided to nurses in Argentina. Through our interview process we concluded that there is an unattended and substantial need and desire for such training. The findings of these interviews will help in the development of a neurological critical care course for nurses in Spanish. This course will include stroke pathology, prevention and management.

Government Coalitions and the Viability of Currency Boards: Argentina under the Cavallo Plan

In April 1991, the Argentine government initiated the central component of yet another program to stabilize an economy still suffering from continuing bouts of rampant inflation. This effort, unlike its numerous predecessors, which had cut, but not defeated, high inflation, proved a rapid and stunning success. Designed and implemented under the guidance of the new Minister of Economy Domingo Cavallo, the “Cavallo Plan” cut the monthly rate of inflation from 11% (in March 1991) to only 1.3% in August and then to just 0.6% by December of that year. While consumer prices rose 172% in 1991, they increased only 4% in 1994 (see Table 1).

Planning the Intermediate City, or How to Do Better with Little: The Case of the City of Nueve de Julio, Argentina

With 92% of its population living in urban areas, Argentina is one of the most urbanized countries on the planet. Like in many South Countries, the populations of the small and medium-sized cities, which serve as intermediate centers between the countryside and the urban network, are growing steadily. Such cities in Argentina offer services and infrastructures to both urban and rural populations, as well as a residential alternative to the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area. These cities, however, are facing specific problems that require appropriate responses. In this respect, Nueve de Julio is emblematic of the challenges facing these intermediate cities. As one of the hundred cities created in the 19th century by the Argentinian government, Nueve de Julio is today a city whose population is increasing, and territory is expanding, but that lacks any foresight to anticipate the next 20 or 30 years. Our purpose is to analyze the reasons of this stagnation, explain the serious development problems the city confronts, with disparities in the organization of its territory and 20% of population living in poverty, and foresee an open system of urban planning, capable to guide the urban authorities and its partners in the identification of priorities and investments in favor of all the inhabitants. The government seems helpless in dealing with this. Political activism prevails over planning and varies from one election to the next depending on the party in power. Means are lacking, both financially and in terms of technical skills. Establishing an open system of urban planning is imperative. Based on the collaboration of citizen, the goals of the planning should include social, economic and spatial integration, efforts to include the city’s poor and more rational, less costly development of the suburban periphery. This will enable Nueve de Julio to better play its role as an intermediate city for the entire urban and regional population with regard to business, administration, education and health services.

Los jóvenes en el mercado laboral argentino bajo regímenes macroeconómicos diferentes: neoliberalismo y neodesarrollismo (1992-2014)

Se presentan los primObjetivo: el objetivo del artículo es analizar la evolución de la composición de los empleos de la fuerza de trabajo joven bajo distintos regímenes macroeconómicos en Argentina: el neoliberalismo (1992-1998) y el neodesarrollismo (2004-2014), tomando en consideración el periodo de crisis socioeconómica que los separa (2001-2003). Método: con este propósito, se avanzó sobre una estrategia metodológica cuantitativa a partir del procesamiento de los datos provenientes de la Encuesta Permanente de Hogares del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo (INDEC), correspondientes a los aglomerados del Gran Buenos Aires para el grupo etario de jóvenes trabajadores de 18 a 29 años. Resultados y conclusión: se presentan los primeros avances de un estudio que aborda la problemática de la inserción laboral de los jóvenes argentinos a partir de analizar el comportamiento de las formas sectoriales del empleo, de la segmentación del mercado de trabajo, y de la determinación de los ingresos laborales durante las últimas dos décadas. Se concluye que en términos laborales los jóvenes se encuentran en una posición desfavorecida, accediendo a empleos de menor calidad y con mayores dificultades para mantenerlos, pese a los cambios macroeconómicos progresivos que pudieron haber atravesado durante los últimos años. © Universidad Católica Luis Amigó - Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales.

La anatomopatología alemana en el centro de la psiquiatría argentina. Una aproximación a los estudios clínicos en el Hospicio de las Mercedes (1900-1910)

En este trabajo nos ocupamos del desarrollo de la anatomopatología en el campo psiquiátrico en Buenos Aires, Argentina, principalmente en el Hospicio de las Mercedes a principios del 1900. Por medio del doctor Domingo Cabred, el gobierno argentino contrató al médico alemán Cristofredo Jacob a través del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, para que se hiciera cargo del Laboratorio de Clínica Psiquiátrica y Neurológica del Hospicio de las Mercedes (1889-1904). Para facilitar su trabajo, se construyó un laboratorio que era la réplica exacta del laboratorio de anatomía patológica en el que Jacob trabajaba en Alemania. Su labor fue fundamental, dado que cimentó la escuela neurobiológica argentina, campo en el que dejó importantes discípulos (Stagnaro, 2006). A partir de este contexto, investigaremos en este artículo parte del trabajo desarrollado en dicho laboratorio. Nos centraremos en los registros de una población de pacientes que fallecieron y fueron autopsiados en el hospicio. Examinaremos cuáles fueron los diagnósticos y analizaremos algunos vínculos entre la clínica de investigación y la teoría de la época referida a la anatomía patológica. Demostraremos que las prácticas del laboratorio –no sólo la autopsia, sino también los análisis de sangre– eran tecnologías críticas para sostener el marco diagnóstico higiénico. Las autopsias construyeron la conexión causal entre los cambios del cuerpo anatomoclínico y la psicopatología; y así, establecía la disciplina psiquiátrica como una rama legitima de la medicina, que generaba explicaciones científicas para la problemática social de la inmigración en el cambio de siglo en Argentina.

La colonización rural con inmigrantes en Argentina a mediados del siglo XX: Un efímero impulso desarrollista alentado por el CIME

La colonización rural con inmigrantes en Argentina suele considerarse un fenómeno circunscrito entre finales del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX. Las décadas posteriores de los cincuenta y los sesenta, por el contrario, son celebradas como la época de la industrialización. El objetivo de este artículo es determinar hasta qué punto aquella inmigración colonizadora estuvo presente en los planes del gobierno argentino a mediados de siglo, situar esos proyectos en un contexto internacional dominado por el fervor desarrollista, y analizar los resultados prácticos que, en tal sentido, produjo la cooperación con el Comité Intergubernamental para las Migraciones Europeas (CIME). Para ello, utilizaré sobre todo documentación primaria —tal como correspondencia oficial, informes y actas— procedente de la administración argentina y del mencionado Comité, además de recortes de prensa e información cuantitativa.

O Movimento Afro descendente e as Campanhas de Identidade Étnica Racial na América Latina e Caribe

O presente artigo faz um recorrido diacrônico no processo de articulação das organizações afrodescendentes da América Latina e Caribe para a inclusão das categorias “cor” e “raça” nos censos demográficos nacionais de 2005 a 2013, tendo como contexto as campanhas de comunicação de auto identificação, organizada pelas entidades afrodescendentes na América Latina e o Caribe e os governo nacionais dos países que fizeram parte da ronda dos censos da década de 2010, entre os quais estão Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia, Costa Rica, Equador, Honduras, Uruguai, Paraguai e Peru. O eixo central do artigo é buscar identificar como estes países utilizaram as plataformas virtuais para impulsionar estas campanhas e que mediações comunicativas se fizeram presentes. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto foi utilizada a pesquisa bibliográfica, e a observação não participativa nos blogs, paginas webs dos atores sociais envolvidos no processo.

Fuelling Social Inclusion? Neo‐extractivism, State–Society Relations and Biofuel Policies in Latin America's Southern Cone

ABSTRACTScholarship on neo‐extractivism agrees that this ‘post‐neoliberal’ model of development is founded on an inherent contradiction between the commitment to continue natural resource extraction and the need to legitimize these activities by using their revenues for poverty reduction. Using the cases of the national biofuel policies of the ‘post‐neoliberal’ governments of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, this article enquires why and how these policies emerged, how they were implemented, and how the resulting national experiences exemplify the inherent contradictions embedded in neo‐extractivist policies. Adopting a strategic‐relational approach to analyse state–society interaction, it is argued that the scope of progressive policies is conditioned to a large extent by pre‐existing social structures, institutions and state–society interactions. The article shows how progressive reforms intersect with the prevailing interests of agribusiness and state actors and are recast and used for different ends as these interact with powerful actors such as the multinational soybean complex and agrarian movements. It is suggested that the prevailing over‐emphasis in the neo‐extractivist literature on the politics of domination and contestation overlooks the multiple and complex rural responses of the different progressive governments. It also obscures the possibilities to explore the ruptures and continuities of these countries’ governments with previous models, and therefore fails to recognize state advances.

DESARROLLO Y ROL DE LAS PROVINCIAS. UN NUEVO ROL DE LOS ESTADOS PROVINCIALES EN MATERIA DE DESARROLLO ECONÓMICO

El objetivo general es formular un cambio de rol de los estados provinciales argentinos frente a los desafíos que presenta el actual contexto internacional para nuestra Nación en materia de crecimiento sustentable y productivo basado en la equidad y la cohesión social con una perspectiva estratégica compartida. El estado nacional debe hacer uso de la racionalidad para poder planificar su desarrollo integral por lo que, frente a esta realidad, los estados provinciales deben reformular su rol para acompañar ese proceso con los suficientes recursos y con políticas e instrumentos verdaderamente efectivos para el desarrollo de las economías regionales. Tomamos como caso de estudio a la provincia de Buenos Aires y abordamos, a modo de ejemplo, el presupuesto provincial y el Régimen de Promoción Industrial, donde analizamos la distribución de los recursos y la aplicación del referido instrumento en los últimos cinco años y su impacto en la economía real bonaerense. Finalmente, formulamos nuestras ideas para el nuevo enfoque que proponemos, que apunta a producir un diametral cambio de dirección de la gestión provincial para promover con éxito el desarrollo económico.AbstractThis article aims broadly at formulating a role change in Argentine provincial governments when tackling challenges presented by the current international context for Argentina in terms of sustainable and productive growth based on equity and social cohesion with a shared strategic perspective. The Argentine government must act rationally to be able to plan an integral development; accordingly, provincial governments must reformulate their role to accompany such process by using appropriate resources and applying truly effective policies and instruments for regional economies to develop. As a case study, we take the province of Buenos Aires’ budget and its “Industrial Promotion Schedule”, where we examine how resources were allocated and how said schedule was applied in the last five years as well as its impact on the real economy of Buenos Aires. Finally, we formulate our ideas for the new approach we propose, which aims at producing a dramatic change in the direction of provincial management for a successful economic development.

UNASUR beyond Brazil: Argentina’s position in support of the South American Defense Council

Abstract In the course of the negotiations for the creation of the Defense Council (CDS), there were two proposals on the table: either to form a collective security alliance, or to establish a flexible forum for cooperation. The aim of this article is to analyze the motives, limitations, and scopes which determined that Argentina opted in favor of the flexible scheme.Keywords: Unasur; South American Defense Council; Argentina; regional security. Received: August 24, 2016 Accepted: March 24, 2017 Introduction I n the course of 2008, amid contradictions, tensions, and different turns of events, the Argentine government evolved from a position of distrust regarding the creation of a Unasur South American Defense Council (CDS henceforth), to one of explicit support. In the initial stages of the negotiations, Argentina rejected the notion that the Council should take the shape of a collective alliance – proposed by Venezuela – and at all times showed clear support for the model involving a forum to discuss policy coordination – in line with Brazil. The position of the Argentine government was that, supposing the project in question was viable, it should be of a simple, agile, and gradual nature. In other words, “cooperation” would be affirmed but “integration” would not be mentioned, and Venezuela’s proposal regarding the creation of a unionist military axis would be swiftly discarded. Moreover, the word “integration” would not appear at all in the text of the CDS founding Treaty – as though integration and defense were irreconcilable concepts, in line with American realist theories.

Food advertising on Argentinean television: are ultra-processed foods in the lead?

To describe the number of processed and ultra-processed food (PUPF) advertisements (ads) targeted to children on Argentinean television (TV), to analyse the advertising techniques used and the nutritional quality of the foods advertised, and to determine the potential exposure of children to unhealthy food advertising in our country. Five free-to-air channels and the three most popular children's cable networks were recorded from 07.00 to 22.00 hours for 6 weeks. Ads were classified by target audience, type of product, advertised food categories and advertising strategies used. The NOVA system was used to classify food products according to industrial food processing level. Nutritional quality was analysed using the Pan American Health Organization's nutrient profile model. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Results are considered applicable to most of the country. The study did not involve human subjects. Of the sample of food ads, PUPF products were more frequently advertised during children's programmes (98·9 %) v. programmes targeted to the general audience (93·7 %, χ 2=45·92, P<0·01). The top five food categories were desserts, dairy products, non-alcoholic sugary beverages, fast-food restaurants, and salty snacks. Special promotions and the appearance of cartoon characters were much more frequent in ads targeting children. Argentinean children are estimated to be exposed to sixty-one ads for unhealthy PUPF products per week. Our study showed that Argentinean children are exposed to a high number of unhealthy PUPF ads on TV. The Argentinean Government should build on this information to design and implement a comprehensive policy to reduce exposure to unhealthy food marketing that includes TV and other communication channels and places.

Fútbol para Todos (Soccer for All): Democratization, Populist Legitimization or Quasi-Authoritarianism?

In 2009 the Argentine government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner created Fútbol para Todos (Soccer for All), a programme that led to a policy of direct state intervention in the acquisition of government television rights for the transmission of soccer matches throughout Argentina. Does Fútbol para Todos serve as a tool for the democratization of Argentinean society, a strategy for populist legitimization, or as an embodiment of quasi-authoritarianism? Successive Argentine governments have politicized soccer. Fútbol para Todos has served as a tool for populist legitimization, but also as a strategy designed to legitimize state interference in a historically private domain, promote government propaganda through a new state monopoly, and strengthen governance processes through popular approval under the ambit of the ‘democratization’ slogan. Fútbol para Todos thus aims to use the state as an agent in the construction of better governance processes for all, but it also reinforces the historical union between soccer and establishment political power in Argentina. Fútbol para Todos is populist in tone and appears democratic, but also masks a darker undercurrent of quasi-authoritarian tendencies in Argentina.

The use of forensic DNA analysis in humanitarian forensic action: The development of a set of international standards

DNA analysis was first applied to the identification of victims of armed conflicts and other situations of violence (ACOSV) in the mid-1990s, starting in South America and the Balkans. Argentina was the first country to establish a genetic database specifically developed to identify disappeared children. Following on from these programs the early 2000s marked major programs, using a largely DNA-led approach, identifying missing persons in the Balkans and following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. These two identification programs significantly expanded the magnitude of events to which DNA analysis was used to help provide the identity of missing persons.Guidelines developed by Interpol (2014) [1] related to best practice for identification of human remains following DVI type scenarios have been widely disseminated around the forensic community; in numerous cases these guidelines have been adopted or incorporated into national guidelines/standards/practice. However, given the complexity of many humanitarian contexts in which forensic science is employed there is a lack of internationally accepted guidelines, related to these contexts, for authorities to reference. In response the Argentine government’s Human Rights Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship (MREC) proposed that the United Nations (UN) should promote best practice in the use of forensic genetics in humanitarian forensic action: this was adopted by the UN in Resolutions A/HRC/RES/10/26 and A/HRC/RES/15/5. Following on from the adoption of the resolutions MREC has coordinated, with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the drafting of a set of guidelines (MREC, ICRC, 2014) [2], with input from national and international agencies. To date the guidelines have been presented to South America’s MERCOSUR and the UN and have been disseminated to interested parties.

Los desafíos de una nueva ciudadanía pampeana. Consecuencias de la implementación de la Asignación Universal por Hijo (2009-2015).

En los últimos años el gobierno argentino implementópolíticas sociales que lograron disminuirsustancialmente los niveles de pobreza e indigencia;al mismo tiempo persisten fuertes debates sobresi estas políticas han modificado o no la estructurapreexistente de protección social. Como unaporte a esas discusiones el presente artículo buscaidentificar si la implementación de la AsignaciónUniversal por Hijo (AUH) ha contribuido a regenerarel esquema de protección social asociadoal modelo de seguro social vigente duranteel formato institucional conocido como “EstadoBenefactor”, reconfigurando una nueva ciudadaníasocial que aquí denominamos pampeana, basándonosen el concepto de ciudadanía plebeya de CarlosFranco. En primer lugar se repasarán debates y discusionessobre el concepto de ciudadanía, luegoabordaremos brevemente cómo se manifestaron enArgentina los modelos de protección social y losprocesos de ciudadanización. En tercer lugar nosabocaremos en las características de la AUH y trataremos de fundamentar la tesis que sostiene que laAUH generó las condiciones para la emergencia deuna nueva ciudadanía que denominamos pampeana.Finalmente se presentan los resultados del trabajoy se esbozan posibles líneas de acción para generarpolíticas públicas que garanticen niveles de protecciónsocial más amplis.

«Desarrollismo» e infraestructura energética: el proyecto de la usina del Dock Sud en Buenos Aires, 1955-1962

Based on unpublished Argentine and foreign primary sources, this article analyses the role of the World Bank in the financing of a basic infrastructure project carried out by the State to solve electric power supply shortages in the city of Buenos Aires and its suburbs in the 1960s. It examines the energy crisis that led to its formulation and early execution, as well as the reasons why the Argentine government subsequently reformulated the earlier project and requested assistance to the World Bank in order to complete it. Also discussed are the difficulties tackled in order to achieve its aims in the wake of the failure of an earlier energy strategy that contemplated the co-existence of state, private, and mixed companies. In the conclusions, the significance of this case-study for Argentina's creditworthiness abroad are discussed, as an example of World Bank loan policies in Latin America, and underlying difficulties for the Argentine government after accepting the “conditionality” criteria of this institution.

HUGO CHAVEZ'S POLARIZING LEGACY: CHAVISMO, MEDIA, AND PUBLIC OPINION IN ARGENTINA'S DOMESTIC POLITICS

Since Hugo Chavez Frias assumed the Venezuelan presidency in 1999, Venezuela has strengthened ties with most of its Latin American neighbors, particularly those where sympathetic leftist administrations also managed to assume power, including Argentina. With our analysis we show: 1) that Argentine media, divided between pro- and anti-government positions, presents a polarized view of chavismo; and 2) that Argentine public opinion regarding Chavez is not necessarily divided on the basis of ideological affiliations (left-right), but rather by the rejection or support of the former Argentine government. With these findings, we argue that in such a polarized information environment, chavismo is a polarizing issue and a tool that can be exploited in the domestic realm.