Neoliberalism In Argentina In The Past 10-20 Years

[janitor91]

Hi guys, i found your forum through trawling the web for research on a topic i am currently investigating.

I am looking to see how Argentina has resisted neoliberalism. Obviously since Menem's government neoliberalism never recovered, though parts of the neoliberal consensus remains such as bilateral investment treaties being signed and cutting of subsidies for things like water. Anyway was looking for a balanced view of what economically speaking has remained neoliberal and what is not. Also what social programs that Kirchner has made are so good?

My understanding of economics isn't great, and i'm new to the topic so would be grateful of some help here!
Thanks,

Ben

 

[camberiu]

The "Convertibilidad" by definition was as anti-neoliberal as it gets. In a free market "liberal" system where the government does not interfere on the economy, exchange rates float freely. People like to throw the term "neoliberal" around without knowing what it means.

 

[sesamosinsal]

Wikipedia (forgive me) sums up the definition of neoliberalism pretty well:

Neoliberalism is a political philosophy whose advocates support economic liberalization, free trade and open markets, privatization, deregulation, and decreasing the size of the public sector while increasing the role of the private sector in modern society.

For better or worse, the Ks have done everything contrary to that definition.

 

[camberiu]

Wikipedia (forgive me) sums up the definition of neoliberalism pretty well:



For better or worse, the Ks have done everything contrary to that definition.

That still does not make Menem or Cavallo "neo liberals".

 

[sesamosinsal]

That still does not make Menem or Cavallo "neo liberals".

For what it's worth, I never even saw your post when I posted

If having a "free market" exchange rate is absolutely necessary to be considered a neoliberal, no country on the planet fits that definition. However, one cannot deny that Menem was quite supportive of neoliberalism in general, just as the U.S. and many other countries are generally supportive of its precepts.

 

[arlean]

I think we like to think certain things about the U.S. that are no longer true. Based on my observation, the US has largely turned into a socialist population that will vote for whoever promises them "stuff" and looks to government to make things work, when government has a hard time making anything work. Free market makes things work and gives the individual the most opportunity.

I have come to understand socialism since I have been in Argentina in a way I never understood it before. I visited with a wealthy lady lately who told me what a terrible place Chile is, that she would have to pay even for her medical and EVERYTHING there. I said But Chile is doing so much better economically, do you think maybe it works? She has no concept of the fact that government produces nothing and has nothing to give you unless they first take it away from you. Even the educated people don't seem to get it. But I know some Argentines who do. Two attorneys that I know well understand, one inport/export businessman and a few others. But for the most part they don't get it.

But they complain about the politicians stealing. Well sure. You collect a bunchof taxes and put it in the hands of politicians and it WILL be stolen. What part of that do people NOT understand? They see it over and over but the logic does not dawn on them.

Again, not all Argies think that way, but this is what I observe. It has put the U.S. in a whole new light for me. They are not far from the same situation I think. Any opinions?

 

[StevePalermo]

It always makes me laugh when anyone from the US describes it as a socialist country.

 

[mariposa]

[background=rgb(252, 252, 252)]I think we like to think certain things about the U.S. that are no longer true. Based on my observation, the US has largely turned into a socialist population that will vote for whoever promises them "stuff" and looks to government to make things work, when government has a hard time making anything work. Free market makes things work and gives the individual the most opportunity.[/background]

Sounds like a page from the playbook of - uh what's his name again, I forgot already. Wait wait - Mitt Romney AKA Mr. 47%!

 

[camberiu]

For what it's worth, I never even saw your post when I posted

If having a "free market" exchange rate is absolutely necessary to be considered a neoliberal, no country on the planet fits that definition. However, one cannot deny that Menem was quite supportive of neoliberalism in general, just as the U.S. and many other countries are generally supportive of its precepts.

Indeed, but there are degrees of currency exchange freedoms. The one during the Menem regime was even more rigid than the one we have today.
Also, running huge deficits, like Menen did is not very "neoliberal" either. Liberalism is about small government, not huge spending ones, like in Argentina during the 1990s.
So no, Menem was not a neoliberal. Not even close. Neither is the US BTW. Anyone who thinks that running trillion dollar annual deficits, bailing out banks and printing money has anything to do with "neoliberalism" obviosuly has no idea what classical liberalism means.

 

[Montauk_Project]

There are a lot of good documentaries on this topic. If you are in Argentina and can understand Spanish you will be able to find many of these at street fairs being sold by political organizations. In San Telmo there is a booth on Sundays around Defensa and Pasaje that has the FUC film school (between Independencia and EEUU)
The Take (la Toma) this is actually in English by Naomi Klein. (I hung out with her interns when she was filming here and met here, so I need to declare any potential conflict of interest) www.thetake.org/
Memorias del saqueo (by Pino Solanas, before he became friendly with the oposition)
El tren blanco
La deuda (by Lanata, completely different from what he does now. Thought the film was a poor imitation of Micheal Moore but it has a lot of stats and numbers)
Just the ones off the top of my head--there are probably at least 100 out there.
And a bonus--this movie is about something that happened 100 years ago, but it is relevant and a great film. "Patagonia Rebelde"--you can think of it as a prequel to the dictatorship and the 90s. One of the classics of local cinema.
you can probably find all of these films on line.
another, haven´t seen it:
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/argentinas-economic-collapse/