Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Under Perón's Shadow
Post-1955, Argentina became
polarized. The military exiled
Perón and banned Peronism from
the political process. Trade unions,
however, remained loyal to the
deposed president and worked
towards making Argentina
ungovernable in his absence.
General strikes paralyzed the
country. In 1971, with Argentina
on the brink of anarchy, the military
sanctioned the return of Perón.
Argentina in crisis, the military
overthrew the government in
1976 and via the infamous
Proceso de Reorganización
Nacional, it unleashed upon
Argentina a reign of brutality
unprecedented in its history.
Left-wing guerrilla forces were
eliminated in the infamous
Guerra Sucia (Dirty War), which
exploded into a campaign of
terror against the civilian population.
Thousands of suspected enemies of the
state “disappeared”: they were arrested,
taken to clandestine concentration camps,
tortured, and killed. Thousands more were
forced into exile. Practically all dissent was
silenced. In 1981, the capital saw its first
mass demonstrations since the coup. The
regime's market economy had unraveled
under high inflation and unemployment,
and general strikes again paralyzed the
country. As the dictatorship's authority
crumbled, it made a desperate attempt to
cling to power by appealing to national
honor. In 1982 it launched an invasion of
the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), subject
of a territorial dispute between the United
Kingdom and Argentina since 1833. Britain
counterinvaded and within 74 days its
forces had overwhelmed their Argentinian
counterparts. Its political standing
shattered, the military returned Argentina
to civilian rule.
Isabel Perón, Argentina's
former Vice President
A Society at War
Perón's third presidential term began in
1973 amid spiraling guerrilla activity and a
Peronist Party split between left- and right-
wing factions. When he died a year later, a
hard-right authoritarian regime led by his
Vice President and third wife, Isabel Perón,
succeeded him. The state-sponsored
paramilitary force Triple A targeted left-
wing subversives and, at the same time, the
military engaged in open warfare with
guerrillas. The economy went into freefall
and inflation surpassed 1,000 percent. With
Democracy and Default
Following national elections the Radical
Party was entrusted with the task of
bringing reconciliation to a devastated
Protest rally by women whose children disappeared during the
armed forces' Dirty War in the 1970s
Pedro E. Aramburu
1974
Perón dies.
Succeeded by Isabel Perón
1973
Perón elected for
a third presidential
term
1976
Military Proceso de
Reorganización Nacional begins
1958
Argentina
returns to civilian
rule
1984
Investigation into crimes
committed during Dirty War leads
to trial of junta leaders
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1987
Due Obedience Law
blocks prosecution of
lower-ranking
officers accused of
Dirty War crimes
1970
Left-wing
guerrilla group
kidnap and kill
former president
Pedro E. Aramburu
1977
Mothers of the
“disappeared” start
silent protest
1966
Military declares
an end to all
constitutional rule
1982
Invasion of
Falkland Islands
(Islas Malvinas)
defeated
