The Post- Perón Era

1. The Post-Perón Era Military-Civilian conflict and the rise of terrorism

2. Military governments since 1955 • Basic preoccupations • How to deal with political enemies • Peronists • Communists • How to deal with economic development • Role of military • Who can best promote economic development • What kind of economic development • Ideological positions within the military • Constitutionalists – Blues (Azules, blandos) • Favor industrialization, willing to work with Peronists • Anti-constitutionalists – Reds (Colorados, duros, gorilos) • Pro-agrarian sector, dictatorial • Saw Peronists as “Argentine Communists”

3. Military governments since 1955 • Historical concerns about militarism • Did militarism create terrorists, or vice versa? • Where did the desire to search for enemies come from? • How do you measure the success or failure of post-1930 military governments? • How do you create a sense of nationalism if the military won’t let people present their chosen candidates? • Are the militaries sufficiently competent to lead a modern nation?

4. Civilian governments and the military, 1958-1966 • How do you conduct politics when 30% of population can not choose their own candidates? If they do, the military will step in. • Arturo Frondizi, 1958-63 • Won elections by making a secret deal with the Peronists • Promised to legalize the CGT • Promised to legalize the Peronist Party

5. Arturo Frondizi

6. Civilian governments and the military, 1958-1966 • Arturo Frondizi, 1958-63 • Dedicated administration to economic development and the reintegration of Peronists • Wanted to promote heavy industry • Saw role of government to stimulate savings, encourage foreign investment, develop fiscal and monetary policies, develop foreign markets • Renegotiated contracts with Standard Oil to explore for oil • Invited foreign firms to Argentina

7. Civilian governments and the military, 1958-1966 • Arturo Frondizi, 1958-63 • Dedicated administration to economic development and the reintegration of Peronists • Went to IMF in Dec. 1958 to get loan to proceed with development plans • IMF demanded austerity plans including firing 15% government workers, stop public works, increase railroad rates by 150%, increase electrical rates, 2 year wage freeze, raise taxes • Negatively received by working class suffering from 30% annual inflation, felt singled out since other sectors not affected (agrarian and industry) • Frondizi branded traitor by Peronists, Radicals and nationalists

8. Civilian governments and the military, 1958-1966 • Arturo Frondizi, 1958-63 • Dedicated administration to economic development and the reintegration of Peronists • Passed new labor statute, granted amnesty for Peronist leaders • By 1961 allowed them to run own candidates in provincial elections • Peronists won 9 of 22 provincial governments including Buenos Aires • Overthrown by military when he refused to annul elections

9. Peronism under Frondizi • Perón in exile refused to delegate authority to any of his followers—sent audio tapes back and forth • Labor divided after Perón into two groups of labor unions and a series of non-union based groups • Sixty-Two Organizations formed in 1957 as a purely Peronist Block • Thirty-Two Organizations that defined themselves as liberal unions

10. Radical Peronism and Unions • Began to dispute tactics to force Frondizi to liberalize political conditions • Among Peronists, a more left-wing group led by John Cooke, challenged union leaders for control of the party • Jan. 1959 major strike to oppose de-nationalization of a meat packing plant • Workers fought police for 6 days from Jan. 15-21 organized by the Peronist left, followed by a 2 day General Strike ordered by the 62 Organizations

11. Plan CONINTES • Massive response from Frondizi Government • Plan called CONINTES (CONmoción INTerno del EStado • Industrial areas were put under control of the military • Thousands of workers arrested, many unions closed down • Destroyed the force of the 62 Organizations • Led to lose of Peronist support for Frondizi

12. 1959 Labor Protests

13. Military Intervention 1962-63 • Military puppet regime under José María Guido, former President of Chamber of Deputies • Economy aided by bumper harvests and increased sales of grain to Soviets and Chinese. • Military stayed in the background, partly to appease Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress • Military also still divided between the Blues and the Reds • Blues called for elections in 1963—again no Peronists allowed to run candidates

14. Arturo Illia • Winner of elections was member of UCRP-supposed to be anti-Peronist, a country doctor named Arturo Illia • Only got 25% of the popular vote—20% blank votes, UCRI 16%--rest went to many parties • As member of UCRP Illia had made no promises to Peronists, yet couldn’t maintain stability in the country without them

15. Causes of the Overthrow of Illia • Refused to send troops to the Dominican Republic in 1965 at request of US • Military offended by success of new Peronist Party (Unión Popular) in 1965 off elections • Military offended by the removal of Blue General Juan Carlos Onganía as Chief of Armed Forces • Led to coup of June 27, 1966

16. The Rise of Guerrilla Movements • In 1958, Peronist Youth [JP]formed to restore Perón to power and create a form of national socialism. • 1959, Uturuncos [“tiger men” in Quechua] form in Tucumán, established training camps based on Cuban model • 1962-63 People’s Guerrilla Army EGP, rural guerrillas, and right wing Tacuara (Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, and urban-based group. • 1964 Major members of Tacuara arrested, but leader went to Montevideo to work with Tupamaros • 1968 militants of JP formed new group FAP [Peronist Armed Forces]

17. Bureaucratic Authoritarianism • Term coined by Guillermo O’Donnell to describe new form of militarism that emerged in Argentina and other Latin American countries at this time • Goals: Remove political impasses by closing down political parties; Promote “deep industrialization” heavy industry; rationalize industry • Implemented by a military junta • All political parties banned, only workers and students free to protest, but University Reforms of July 1966 gave government the right to control universities

18. Response to Bureaucratic Authoritarianism • Unions planned Plan de Acción (Plan of Action), February 1967 • Series of partial strikes followed by General Strike • Government responded by freezing union bank accounts and took away their right to represent workers • Stimulated the Peronist Labor unions to organize again, but they split over tactics • Participationists led by Augusto Vandor; those totally loyal to Perón, again called the 62 at Perón’s Side, refused to work with Illia

19. Responses, con’t • Students offended by political purges of university Faculty: Filosofía y Letras lost 41%, Ciencias Exactas 51% • Began to defy government openly in 1968 • Military responded by rolling tanks to the front of universities and threatening to destroy them

20. CORDOBAZO • What really spelled the end of the Onganía government was a massive popular demonstration in the city of Córdoba in May 1969. • Instigated by university students and workers for different reasons • Led to the streets

21. Causes • Córdoba doing quite well with a nascent auto industry • In 1951 produced 108 trucks and vans; by 1969 produced 218,000 cars and trucks—1 car for every 12 people—US 1-2, Brazil 1-31; England 1-4, Haiti 1-550 • Auto unions linked to a new radical CGT led by Raimundo Ongaro • Protested reforms to increase work week to 40-44 hours. Already paid for 48 hour week • Protested increased costs of gas and buses. • Students protested May 13 increased cost of lunches—one student killed in protest • Strikes took to the streets after General Strike May 29-30 100s killed

22. Cordobazo, May 1969

23. Downfall of Bureaucratic Authoritarianism • General Onganía removed from office June 1970 • Replaced by Roberto Levingston and then by General Alejandro Lanusse • Faced by new threats: left wing guerrillas supported by Peronists and Marxists • Kidnapping, bank robberies, bombs, assassination of diplomats and labor union leaders • Economic conditions deteriorating with inflation • Led to return of Perón in 1973

24. More Guerrillas Band Together • 1969 Fernando Abal Medina formed group based upon Che Guevara and Camilo Torres’ ideas—called Montoneros • Same year FAR, Revolutionary Armed Forces formed, by 1970 they joined the Peronists, and began to kill labor leaders who might challenge the return of Perón like José Alonso. • Then in 1970 banned political parties founded the “Hour of the People” including Radicals, Popular Conservatives, Socialists, and Peronists. Intent: force new elections.