This diagnostic history of Argentina's economic prostration is full of timely lessons for readers in the United States about how an irresponsible capitalist elite and cynical politicians can lead a wealthy nation to throw it all away.
They say those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. Thus the importance of this book. The Agony of Argentine Capitalism: From Menem to the Kirchners is the capstone of a magisterial trilogy exploring the reasons for Argentina's shocking "reversal of development." In the early 20th century, Argentina was a rising star. It was one of the world's ten richest countries, on course to a place among the most advanced and prosperous liberal democracies in the world. Then, in 1929, Argentina fell into an economic coma from which no political or military shock treatment has been able to rouse it.
The collapse of Argentina's capitalist class has been so devastating that little support remains for free enterprise or free trade. Her fate poses an intellectual challenge for First World capitalist countries. As famed economist Paul Samuelson warned: "Argentina is the pattern no modern capitalist may face without crossing himself and saying, 'There but for the grace of God….'"
Les mer
This diagnostic history of Argentina's economic prostration is full of timely lessons for readers in the United States about how an irresponsible capitalist elite and cynical politicians can lead a wealthy nation to throw it all away.They say those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.
Les mer
Preface
Abbreviations
CHAPTER ONE: The Rise to Power
The Young Político
Governor Menem
Governor Again: The Menem Model
The Renovationist
CHAPTER TWO: The Crisis of Argentine Capitalism
The Roots of Stagflation
The Business Elites
CHAPTER THREE: Trials and Errors
Plan B&B
The Crony Cabinet
Family Scandals and Military Threats
Corruption Scandals
Government Shakeup
CHAPTER FOUR: Free Markets and Convertibility
The Convertibility Plan
Foreign Influence
Labor's Travails
CHAPTER FIVE: The Underside of the System
The Syrian Connection: "Yomagate"
The Syrian Connection: Gun-Running
The Syrian Connection: Terrorism
"Junior's Accident"
Intimidation of the Press
CHAPTER SIX: Triumphs and Troubles
Convertibility's Potential Problems
Menem's Re-Election
The "Tequila Effect"
Economic Damage Control
The Dysfunctional Provinces
The Demands of Clientelism
CHAPTER SEVEN: The Downward Slide
Cavallo versus Yabrán
The Rout of Domestic Capitalism
The Raiders
Summary
CHAPTER EIGHT: Challenges
Murder's Red Trail
The October 1997 Elections
The Peronists Split
The Alliance Rolls Forward
CHAPTER NINE: The Crash
The Alliance Breaks Up
Troubles and Turmoil
Return of the "Wizard"
Free Fall
CHAPTER TEN: The Retreat to Populism
The Conflict with the Courts
Economic Agony
Three-Sided Stalemate
Menem Redux
CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Illusions of Progress
The Kirchner Coalition
The Debt "Haircut"
Toward a Closed Economy
The Contradictions of a Closed Economy
From Néstor to Cristina, With Love
CHAPTER TWELVE: Defiance
Tactical Maneuvers
The Struggle for Public Opinion
The Congressional Struggle
The Aftermath
Facing the Future: The Three Argentinas
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
Les mer
Lewis presents the third in a trilogy that includes The Crisis of Argentine Capitalism, which explored the political economy of Argentina from the late 19th century through the rule of Juan Peron, and Guerillas and Generals: The 'Dirty War' in Argentina, which concentrated on the causes and effects of political violence in the 1970s. In this volume, he returns to the political economy focus of the first volume, discussing the efforts of President Menem and President De la Rua to push through free trade policies and criticizing the populist policies of the later governments of Cristina and Néstor Kirchner, who he argues seek to 'extend state control to all aspects of the economy and to redistribute income derived from the most efficient sector, agriculture,' and threaten to repeat the mistakes of Peron, who Lewis blames for the chronic 'stagflation' (stagnant production and persistent inflation) that plagued the Argentine economy through the 1980s.
Les mer
"Professor Lewis, a talented political scientist cum pathologist, has written an account of a country in dire peril. Argentina’s disastrously mismanaged economy has plunged its people into poverty and insecurity in a land of plenty. Its self- inflicted agony is portrayed unflinchingly. Whether the damage can be reversed remains in doubt. Argentina’s dark shadow on the wall should be a warning to all of us."
Les mer
This diagnostic history of Argentina's economic prostration is full of timely lessons for readers in the United States about how an irresponsible capitalist elite and cynical politicians can lead a wealthy nation to throw it all away.
Les mer
15 illustrations
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780313378775
Publisert
2009-06-22
Utgiver
Vendor
Praeger Publishers Inc
Vekt
510 gr
Høyde
235 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Aldersnivå
UF, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
240
Forfatter