Thoughts on Argentina

Abstract

The recent collapse of the Argentine economy, as argued by historian Ignacio Lewkowicz, precipitated the “overflow” of the state’s political institutions as well. Yet, the authors observe, Argentine social and political life continued to function despite the lack of meaningful controls from above. It appears that it was the force of norms and the fear of total anarchy that led Argentina’s “civil society” to carry the burden of law and order for a short time. Here, the authors suggest that an opportunity for radical change might have been lost.