Argentina and Neo-liberalism

Paper Summary:

The paper argues that although governmental incompetence has contributed to its problems, Argentina's present impoverishment and dependence is very much a product of neo-liberal policies foisted upon the country by powerful international actors like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The paper provides an overview of Argentinean domestic policy, notes the neo-liberal agenda and impact of the World Bank and IMF and illustrates the consequences flowing from neo-liberal policies made all the more powerful by compelling global phenomena. The paper shows how while neo-liberalism is certainly not all bad, it does discourage the sort of internal development a poor and weakened nation like Argentina desperately needs.

From the Paper:

"Before proceeding too far, it is necessary to provide some background information on the country of Argentina; this background, needless to say, can offer a great deal of insight into why Argentina's current predicament is as bad as it is. For most of the twentieth century, Argentina's economy has been characterized by stagnation and by recession; indeed, since the middle 1970s, per capita income has tumbled and (by the middle 1990s) was less than that of relatively poor nations such as Chile and Malaysia. Additionally, the emigration of Argentineans seeking a better life has emerged as a pressing concern in recent years. To all of this must be added the fact that Argentina's interior - which comprises roughly 70 percent of the nation's land and, as of roughly a decade ago, comprised just under a third of its population - has been chronically poor since at least the 1930s (Sawers, 3-4)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Acuna, Carlos H., and Maria Fernanda Tuozzo. "Civil Society Participation in World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank Programs: The Case of Argentina." Global Governance, 6.4 (2000): 433+. Questia.com. 4 Feb. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001174498>
• Barton, Jonathan R., and Laura Tedesco. The State of Democracy in Latin America: Post-Transitional Conflicts in Argentina and Chile. New York: Routledge, 2004. Questia.com. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108862328 >
• Danaher, Kevin. 50 Years is Enough: The Case against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Boston: Southend Press, 1994. Questia.com. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102119822>
• De la Torre, Enrique. "Argentina and New Zealand: Two Countries of the South." New Zealand International Review, 26.6 (2002): 15+. Questia.com. 5 Feb. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000913110>
• Green, Duncan. "Poverty Brokers: the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank." Silent Revolution: The Rise of Market Economics in Latin America. USA: Cassell, 1995. 32-59.

More papers on Argentina and Neo-liberalism:

• Essay # 26662 : "Neo Liberalism in Argentina"
• Term Paper # 140115 : "Economic Policies in Argentina and Chile."
• Essay # 26062 : "Economic Development Strategies in South America"

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