Religion and Politics in ArgentinaSee also Latin America, Brazil, Chile, Mexico. 1. Brief Introduction 1. Brief Introduction to Religion and Politics in Argentina Argentina has a population of nearly 42 million, with a population growth rate of 1.02% (July 2011 est.). It had a 2010 HDI ranking of #46 and a 2010 CPI ranking of 2.9, lower than Chile (7.2) and Brazil (3.7). The CIA Factbook lists Argentina as 92% Catholic (but less than 20% practicing), 2% Protestant, 2% Jewish, and 4% other. The country stands out in Latin America for its early economic prosperity and heavy European immigration. Argentine society eventually divided between conservatives and a strong Peronist labor movement. Unfortunately, the country suffered a period of significant human rights abuses by the military during the dictatorship of 1976-83. When the generals lost the Malvinas (Falklands) War to the United Kingdom in 1982, they also lost control of the government. The Catholic spiritual retrenchment of the 1990s seemed to fit South America’s political democratization and economic liberalization. Argentina hoped to benefit greatly from both during the presidency of Carlos Saul Menem. The Argentine economic liberalization did seem a significant success until 1998, but the government ignored both economic fundamentals and the poor. After a chaotic period of five presidents, the government of Peronist Eduardo Duhalde devalued the peso and defaulted on its debts. This ushered in a period of tough negotiations with the I.M.F., then the presidency of center-left candidate, Peronist Néstor Kirchner. The economy has since rebounded and grown at a roughly eight percent rate since 2002. Kirchner paid off the last of Argentina’s I.M.F. debt in January 2006, and then withdrew from further negotiations with the organization. Kirchner's wife Cristina succeeded him in 2007, but her presidency has been much rockier, including capital flight, a sharp decline in foreign investment, and a brutal, but ultimately losing, fight over her agricultural tax. The couple risked much political capital in Nestor's June 2009 run for Congress, but he was defeated. Nestor died in October 2010, and Cristina's popularity has surged recently on economic growth so that she is heavy favorite in Oct. 23 presidential election. Nestor Kirchner's relations with the military were tense. When he took office in 2003, the president forced the retirement of more than 50 generals and admirals, more than one-half of the top commands. In June 2006 Kirchner used an Army Day ceremony to attack the arms forces for their previous support for “state terrorism.” In June 2005 the Supreme Court declared amnesty laws unconstitutional, and human rights trials began one year later. In terms of new religious movements, Argentina’s secularism plus strong Peronist movements among the poor have not offered a very hospitable environment for either Pentecostal or Catholic charismatics, nor for Liberation Theology. The Argentine bishops, like the Mexican episcopate, have in general taken a more conservative theological and social path than the Brazilian and Chilean episcopates. Hanson (2006), pp. 260-94, discusses "Latin America: Indigenous Religions, Christianity, and Globalization.” 2. A Short Introductory Course on Religion and Politics in Argentina Ivereigh provides a superb history of Catholic politics in Argentina up to 1960. He does this by challenging the predominant paradigm of a liberal and democratic Enlightenment politics versus an authoritarian strain, which contained the Church. Actually, he documents, there was Enlightenment absolutism in both the liberal and nationalist agendas, and there was a separate Catholic scholastic tradition which questioned this absolutism. However, the scholastic tradition split into nationalist and Christian Democratic tendencies and was never strong enough to offer an alternative regime. This well-documented book is particularly good in linking the European ideological trends, especially in France, to their Argentine repercussions. Mignone is an Argentine journalist whose daughter was among the disappeared. He documents the general failure—there are some exceptions—of the Catholic Church leadership to confront the human rights violations of the junta. Burdick focuses on the Movement of Priests for the Third World and the Church’s search for democracy. Ivereigh, Austen. Catholicism and Politics in Argentina 1810-1960 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1995). Mignone, Emilio F. The Witness to Truth: The Complicity of Church and Dictatorship in Argentina, 1976-83, trans. Philip Berryman (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1986). Burdick, Michael A. For God and Fatherland: Religion and Politics in Argentina (Albany, NY: SUNY, 1995). 3. Other Key Resource Materials for Religion and Politics in Argentina Chesnut, R. Andrew, “A Preferential Option for the Spirit: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Latin America’s New Religious Economy,” Latin American Politics and Society 45, no. 1 (spring 2003): 55-85. Gill, Anthony. Rendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Church and the State in Latin America (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998). Gill, Anthony, “Religion and Democracy in South America: Challenges and Opportunities,” in Jelen and Wilcox, Comparative Politics (2002). Klaiber, Jeffrey, S.J. The Church, Dictatorships, and Democracy in Latin America (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1998). Levine, Daniel H., and Stoll, David, “Bridging the Gap Between Empowerment and Power in Latin America,” Rudolph, Susanne Hoeber, and Piscatori, James, Transnational Religion and Fading States (Boulder, Co.: Westview Press, 1997), 63-103. Smith, Brian H. Religious Politics in Latin America: Pentecostal vs. Catholic (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1998). 4. Recent News Articles on Argentina (a. General Politics; b. Politics and Economics; c. Religion and Politics; and d. Foreign Policy): a. General Politics “Argentine Leader’s Bid to Rein In Military Leads to Clash,” New York Times, June 4, 2006. History of Kirchner-Army tension over human rights and military restructuring. “After 30 Years, Argentina’s Dictatorship Stands Trial,” New York Times, August 20, 2006. Report of first trials. According to the Center for Legal and Social Studies, which brought suit against the amnesty laws, 222 former police, military, and intelligence officers are in custody and awaiting trial. Conviction of lead defendant in September. “Argentina’s Former Economy Czar Weighs Run for President,” New York Times, August 26, 2006. Roberto Lavagna, finance minister from 2002 to late 2005, criticizes Kirchner’s “turn to the left” in economics and foreign policy. “Death Squad Fears Again Haunt Argentina,” New York Times, October 8, 2006. Disappearance of crucial witness in first trial that resulted in a human rights conviction. However, retired police commissioner Miguel Etchecolatz, 77, was sentenced to life in prison. "Argentina's President Steps Aside to Support Wife as His Successor," New York Times, July 3, 2007. President N. Kirchner announces he will not seek a second term, but support his wife, Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. She is front-runner for the October election, but move raises questions about alternating terms, and she inherits his troubles with scandals and energy (July 8). "In Argentina, a Campaign Promising Change Offers More of the Same," New York Times, October 28, 2007. Fine analysis of the political strengths and weaknesses of the Kirchner partnership. "Argentine Ex-Army Chief Gets Life Sentence in 'Dirty War' Crimes," New York Times, July 25, 2008. Luciano Benjamin Menendez, former head of Third Army Corps, convicted of human rights crimes at La Perla dentention center in Cordoba. "Ex-President Quits as Party Chief After Election Losses Rock Argentine Leadership," New York Times, June 30, 2009. Nestor Kirchner resigns as head of Peronist party after defeat in Congressional election. "Argentine Ex-Leader Dies; Political Impact Is Murky," New York Times, October 28, 2010. Death of Nestor Kirchner and political fallout. "Argentine President Overcoming Doldrums," New York Times, August 14, 2011. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's popluarity has surged and she is now heavy favorite in Oct. 23 presidential election. After this article she won just over 50% of the vote in the presidential primary, with second and third candidates receiving 12.2% each. Main support comes from strong economic growth despite inflation and national debt. And Peronist Party has problems, with Cristina relying on La Campora movement run by her son Maximo. b. Politics and Economics “Argentina Paying Heavily For Squandering Blessings,” New York Times, February 8, 2002. Discussion of financial default and connection to culture and history. “Economic Rally For Argentines Defies Forecasts,” New York Times, December 26, 2004. Despite defying I.M.F., economy grows quickly under new President Kirchner. Stats by quarter ‘94-‘04. “As Argentina’s Debt Dwindles, President’s Power Grows,” New York Times, January 3, 2006. “For Argentina’s Sizzling Economy, a Cap on Steak Prices,” New York Times, April 3, 2006. President’s attempt to pressure for voluntary price restraint as 2007 election looms. "A Widening Gap Erodes Argentina's Egalitarian Image," New York Times, December 25, 2006. Argentina has had Latin America's fastest growing economy (more than 8 percent annually) since 2003, but economic and social inequality have intensified, giving support to traditional Peronist values among the poor. "In Argentina's Grain Belt, Farmers Revolt Over Taxes," New York Times, April 24, 2008. New taxes raise farmers' revolt. Peronists have traditionally used agricultural profits to industrialize the country and feed the poor. Farmers protest that this is an historic opportunity to feed the world, losing to Brazilian competition, etc. "President of Argentina Acts to Avert Crisis," New York Times, June 18, 2008. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner agrees to ask Congress to legitimize export taxes on agriculture. Although her supporters have a majority in Congress, her popularity has dropped to less than 25 percent. Opposition continues demonstrations. "President of Argentina Withdraws Tax Increase," New York Times, July 19, 2008. Tax increases on agricultural exports defeated in Senate on tie-breaking vote of President Kirchner's own vice president, Julio Cobos. President then withdraws measure. c. Religion and Politics "Argentine Church Faces 'Dirty War' Past," New York Times, September 17, 2007. Report of honest testimony of Father Ruben Capitanio on church's role at trial of Father Christian von Wernich, police chaplain during the military dictatorship. In October von Wernich was convicted of involvement in seven murders, 31 cases of torture, and 42 kidnappings, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He had been hiding in Chile until discovered in 2003. "In Argentina, a Campaign Promising Change Offers More of the Same," New York Times, October 28, 2007. Fine analysis of the political strengths and weaknesses of the Kirchner partnership. "Argentina Senate to Vote On Same-Sex Marriage Bill," New York Times, July 14, 2010. Passed by lower house, later by senate, and signed into law on July 23. Article covers politics of this initiative by administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, as Kirchners look forward to 2011 election. Catholic Church strongly opposes. d. Foreign Policy
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