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The Socialist Press in Turn-of-the-Century Argentina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2015

Richard J. Walter*
Affiliation:
Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

Extract

Socialism, as expressed by political parties professing that ideology, has had only minimal impact on Argentina's twentieth-century political history. On the other hand socialist ideas, broadly defined, have had considerable influence, although often in an indirect manner. In the political realm, for example, popular presidents Hipólito Yrigoyen (1916-1922; 1928-1930) and Juan Perón (1946-1955; 1973-1974) sought to pre-empt and co-opt socialism's appeal to the working class by proposing and implementing socialist-inspired reforms wrapped in nationalist rhetoric. Conversely, after the fall of Perón in 1955 various military governments have based their intervention into national politics largely on the need to stem the flow of Marxist ideas, to prevent the growth of socialist organizations—especially those which would repeat the Cuban revolutionary experience on Argentine soil—and to protect the principles of free enterprise capitalism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Academy of American Franciscan History 1980

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References

1 See Alexander, Robert J., Communism in Latin America (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1957), pp. 154176 Google Scholar and Walter, Richard J., The Socialist Party of Argentina, 1890–1930 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1977).Google Scholar

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3 Marvin Goldwert, Democracy, Militarism, and Nationalism in Argentina, 1930–1966: An Interpretation (Austin: The University of Texas Press, 1972), pp. 141–210. For more recent developments, see Corradi, Juan E., Kenworthy, Eldon, and Wipfler, William, “Argentina 1973–1976: The Background to Violence,” Latin American Studies Association Newsletter, 7, 3 (September 1976), 328.Google Scholar

4 For a summary of the impact of foreign ideas on Argentina, see Romero, José Luis, A History of Argentine Political Thought (Introduction and Translation by McGann, Thomas F.) (Stanford University Press, 1963).Google Scholar

5 Former socialist José Ingenieros reflected the reaction of those who at first were favorably impressed by the Revolution and did much to inform Argentines of developments in the Soviet Union. In addition to his own observations, published in Los tiempos nuevos: Reflexiones optimistas sobre la guerra y la revolución (Madrid: Editorial América, 1921), he also included a number of articles on the Bolshevik experiment in the Revista de filosofía, a journal which he edited from 1915 to 1925.

6 Palacios, elected in 1904 at the age of twenty-five to the Argentine Congress as Latin America’s first socialist deputy, had a long and distinguished political and academic career. In the 1920’s and 1930’s he was professor and dean in the law schools of the Universities of Buenos Aires and La Plata. Quien es quien en la Argentina: Biografías contemporaneas; año 1939 (Buenos Aires: Guillermo Kraft, Ltda., 1939), pp. 325–326. Ponce, a disciple of Ingenieros and also an editor of the Revista de filosofía, was removed from his teaching position in 1936 for his Marxist views. This removal became a subject for debate in the national Congress. See República Argentina, Diario de sesiones de la Cámara de Diputados, año 1936 (Buenos Aires, 1937), IV, 817–821.

7 For a review of recent Argentine social science literature much influenced by Marxist analysis, see Merkx, Gilbert W., “Argentine Social Science: The Contribution of CICSO [Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Sociales],” Latin American Research Review, 14, 1 (1979), 228233.Google Scholar

8 The major emphasis in this essay is upon the spread of socialist ideas through journalism. However, it should be noted that particularly in the post-World War II era many of socialism’s main tenets were transmitted through fictional literature, the theater, films, and even music. Recent military governments have been very sensitive to the influence of these media and have tailored their censorship policies accordingly.

9 For information on the spread of radical ideas in Latin America at this time, see Spalding, Hobart A. Jr., Organized Labor in Latin America: Historical Case Studies of Urban Workers in Dependent Societies (New York: Harper & Row, 1977), pp. 811.Google Scholar

10 Dulles, John W. F., Anarchists and Communists in Brazil, 1900–1935 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1973), pp. 1315 Google Scholar and Chilcote, Ronald H., The Brazilian Communist Party: Conflict and Integration, 1922–1972 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974), pp. 1821.Google Scholar

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14 For more information on these developments, see Fisk Rennie, Ysabel, The Argentine Republic (New York: The MacMillan Company, 1945), pp. 152206 Google Scholar; Rock, David, Politics in Argentina, 1890-1930: The Rise and Fall of Radicalism (Cambridge University Press, 1975), pp. 194 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Scobie, James R., Argentina, A City and a Nation, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), pp. 112216 Google Scholar; and, Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 3133.Google Scholar

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18 As quoted in ibid., p. 66.

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20 Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 1617.Google Scholar

21 A sample of some of Lallemant’s, Avé writings on agrarian questions can be found in La clase obrera y el nacimiento del marxismo en la Argentina: Selección de artículos de Gérman Avé Lallemant (Introduction by Paso, Leonardo) (Buenos Aires: Editorial ANTEO, 1974), pp. 83129.Google Scholar

22 It is not clear just how Avé Lallemant became conversant with Marxist theory or how profound such knowledge was. Although his own writings display a considerable sophistication in dealing with Marxist concepts, it is not known, for example, if he ever read Das Kapital. He was, in the 1880’s and 1890’s, a correspondent for the German Social Democratic newspaper Die Neue Zeit, and it may well have been that through reading that journal he absorbed the ideas which he, in turn, would disseminate in his adopted land. Ratzer, , Los marxistas, pp. 8990.Google Scholar

23 Biographical information on Lallemant, Avé is from La clase obrera, pp. 1518 Google Scholar; “Los que abrieron el surco,” in Socialista, Partido, Anuario Socialista: Año primero, 1928 (Buenos Aires, 1928), 183185 Google Scholar; and, Ratzer, , Los marxistas, pp. 7991.Google Scholar

24 “Nuestro Programa,” El Obrero (Buenos Aires: December 12, 1890), p. 1.

25 Ibid.

26 “La guerra de clases,” El Obrero (February 6, 1892), p. 1.

27 See in particular the excerpts from El Obrero printed in Spalding, Hobart, La clase trabajadora argentina (Documentos para su historia—1890/1912) (Buenos Aires: Editorial Galerna, 1970), pp. 132152 and 193–215.Google Scholar

28 “Programa de la Federación Obrera Argentina: Proyecto presentado al Primer Congreso Obrero Argentino de 1891,” El Obrero (July 25, 1891), p. 1.

29 “La cuestión social,” El Obrero (February 21, 1981), p. 1.

30 “El socialismo científico y el anarquismo,” El Obrero (January 17, 1891), p. 1. In this article the editors forecast the strong emphasis the leaders of Argentina’s Socialist party would place on organization and discipline.

31 “La huelga universal,” El Obrero (February 13, 1892), p. 1.

32 “Federación Obrera: Presentación dirigida al Exm. Sr. Presidente de la República—Carlos Pellegrini,” El Obrero (January 24, 1891), p. 1.

33 “Nuestro Programa,” op. cit.

34 “El Panamericanismo,” El Obrero (October 3, 1891), p. 2.

35 Palacios, Alfredo L., La justicia social (Buenos Aires: Editorial Claridad, 1954), pp. 114116.Google Scholar

36 Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 1721.Google Scholar

37 Spalding, , La clase trabajadora, p. 71.Google Scholar

38 República Argentina, Tercer Censo Nacional, Levantado el 1° de Junio de 1914 (Buenos Aires: Talleres Gráficos de L. J. Rosso y Cia, 1917), IX, pp. 288–289.

39 La Vanguardia: Número del cincuentenario de su fundación; 7 de abril de 1894—7 de abril de 1944 (Buenos Aires, 1944), pp. 98–141.

40 These events are detailed in La Vanguardia for September 30, 1910, the day the state of siege was lifted. See also, Oddone, , Historia del socialismo, 2, pp. 7581.Google Scholar

41 These are listed by name in La Vanguardia: Número del cincuentenario, p. 98.

42 For more on Justo’s Marxism, see Cúneo, Dardo, Juan B. Justo y las luchas sociales en la Argentina (Buenos Aires, 1956)Google Scholar; Ghioldi, Aḿerico, juan B. Justo: Sus ideas históricas; Sur ideas socialistas; Sus ideas filosoficas (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Monserrat, 1964)Google Scholar; and, Pan, Luis, Justo y Marx: El socialismo en la Argentina (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Monserrat, 1964), pp. 2425.Google Scholar

43 Ratzer, , Los marxistas, pp. 167175.Google Scholar

44 Programa, Nuestro,” La Vanguardia (Buenos Aires: April 7, 1894), p. 1.Google Scholar

45 “Los siervos de las provincias del norte,” La Vanguardia (June 2, 1894), p. 1; “La esclavitud en el norte de la República,” La Vanguardia (July 28, 1894), p. 1; and Oddone, , Historia del socialismo, 1, pp. 183184.Google Scholar

46 See issues of June, July, and August 1912. See also Solberg, Carl E., “Rural Unrest and Agrarian Policy in Argentina, 1912–1930,” Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs, 13, 1 (January 1971), 2325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

47 Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 35, 60–63.Google Scholar

48 “Nacionalización de extranjeros,” La Vanguardia (April 24, 1894), pp. 3–4.

49 Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 3031.Google Scholar

50 “Por qué sube el oro: Para hacer bajar los salarios,” La Vanguardia (April 7, 1894), p. 2.

51 “Contra los impuestos indirectos,” La Vanguardia (November 3, 1894), p. 1.

52 For example, “Los socialistas en la política argentina,” La Vanguardia (May 26, 1894), p. 1.

53 “La situación actual: Crisis; radicalismo y democracia,” La Vanguardia (July 21, 1894), p. 1.

54 “La política criolla y el motín militar,” La Vanguardia (February 11, 1905), p. 1.

55 “Sobre el origen del capital y del proletariado argentino,” La Vanguardia (April 14, 1894), p. 1.

56 “El ocaso de una mediocridad,” La Vanguardia (August 26, 1910), p. 1.

57 “Al pueblo de la república,” La Vanguardia (February 26, 1914), p. 1.

58 “Pan-americanismo,” La Vanguardia (September 1, 1910), p. 1. For more on the socialists’ attitude toward foreign capital, see Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 165168.Google Scholar

59 “En defensa de la moralidad y de la armonía,” La Vanguardia (January 21, 1899), p. 1.

60 See Bagú, Sergio, Vida ejemplar de José Ingenieros: Juventud y plenitud (Buenos Aires: Colección Claridad, 1936)Google Scholar and Bravo, Mario, “Leopoldo Lugones en el movimiento socialista (1896–1897),” Nosotros, 2, nos. 26–28 (May-July 1938), 2747.Google Scholar

61 For a thorough biography of Ugarte, including information on his difficulties with the Socialist party, see Galasso, Norberto, Manuel Ugarte (Buenos Aires: EUDEBA, 1973), two volumes.Google Scholar

62 Lugones, Leopoldo, “Los políticos de este país,” La Montaña (Buenos Aires: April 1, 1897), 5.Google Scholar

63 Ingenieros, José, “Los reptiles burgueses,” La Montaña (April 15, 1897), 5.Google Scholar

64 Lugones, Leopoldo, “Los políticos de este país,” La Montaña (May 15, 1897), 5.Google Scholar

65 Ingenieros, José, “Los reptiles burgueses, IV: Los padres de la patria,” La Montaña (August 15, 1897), 5.Google Scholar

66 Ingenieros, José, “Socialismo y revolución,” La Montaña (July 1, 1897), 5.Google Scholar

67 For example, “El predominio del PAN [Partido Autonomista Nacional, the dominant party of the oligarchy],” El Diaro del Pueblo (Buenos Aires: November 12, 1899), p. 1.

68 Some centro newspapers, consulted in the Obrera, BibliotecaJuan B. Justo” in Buenos Aires, included La Luz: Períodico Socialista, (1901–1905),Google Scholar located in circunscripción four; El Socialista: Organo del Centro Socialista Juventud Obrera; Circunscripción 8a (1903–1904); La Antorcha: Organo del Centro Socialista de la Circunscripción 2a (1903); El Alba: Organo Socialista de la Circunscripción 20a (1904); and, Adelante: Organo de la Circunscripción 10a (1904–1911).

69 Vida Nueva appeared twice monthly between January 1906 and February 1907.

70 The complete run for 1914 was examined in the Biblioteca Obrera “Juan B. Justo.”

71 In 1910 the title was changed to Humanidad Nueva: Revista Socialista Internacional.

72 For biographical information, see Marianetti, Benito, Enrique Del Valle Iberlucea: Una honrada conducta frente a la revolución rusa (Buenos Aires: Ediciones Sílaba, 1972), pp. 711.Google Scholar

73 Enrique Iberlucea, Del Valle, “Crítica y acción: Nuestro programa,” Revista Socialista Internacional, 1, 1 (Buenos Aires: December 15, 1908), 17.Google Scholar

74 For more details, see Walter, , The Socialist Party, pp. 6770.Google Scholar

75 For example, Casaretto, Martín, “El movimiento sindical en la república: Refleciones sobre el movimiento obrero,” Humanidad Nueva, 3, 5 (May 1, 1910), 246252.Google Scholar

76 These appeared in the editions of February 15 (195–199), March 15 (272–273), and April 15 (336–353) of 1909.

77 For example, Enrique Iberlucea, Del Valle, “Notas Editoriales: De la revolución al centenario,” Humanidad Nueva, 3, 5 (May 1, 1910), 233236.Google Scholar