Quo Vadis, Argentina?

Seventy years after the end of World War II, the world still wonders how, after 1932, Germany could have so blindly followed Adolf Hitler, an uneducated corporal turned populist dictator.

After all, at the time it was a technological marvel, as well as the country that had produced artists such as Hesse, Goethe, Dürer, Novalis, Bach and Wagner.

Driven by Hitler’s and his supporters’ extremely pernicious ideology, all of Germany soon fell into a deadly spiral.

Argentina’s longtime downward spiral

In terms of the self-destructive mechanisms which a nation can hoist upon itself and which can lead it to the road to national self-destruction, the same pattern is now present in Argentina.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in economic terms Argentina was fifth among the most developed countries in the world. Today that is a depressing memory.

Perverse politics yields national corrosion

The steady decline since seems all the more perplexing as Argentina continues to boast fertile land, some of the best meat and wines in the world as well as a significant production of soy and wheat.

In addition to natural resources, Argentina has a highly educated population, including several Nobel Prize winners.

This prompts the question: What happened to the country? Why is Argentina in such a sorry state, economically, politically and socially?

Who destroyed Argentine democracy?

Of course, one could argue that it was the military dictatorship years (1976-1983) that destroyed the country’s democracy.

But is that really the cause of why Argentines consistently vote for leaders who promise everything, only to deliver nothing? And why do they generally vote for politicians who continue to destroy the country’s economy and reputation?

What is driving the country into the abyss?

Argentina’s contemporary failure cannot be understood without Peronism, a movement based on the ideas and legacy of Argentina’s former President Juan Perón (1946–1952, 1952–1955, 1973–1974).

Peron led a leftist populist movement not to be mixed up politically with the hard-right Chilean military regime under Pinochet.

Evidently, some Argentinians still believe in the miracle powers of whoever the Peronist leader is.

For that reason, they are utterly convinced that the country’s saviors will be the Peronists — even though, especially given the latter-day Peronists’ track record, this hope must be considered completely irrational at this juncture.

Promising the moon, delivering self-enrichment

It should matter to Argentines claiming to care about the advance of the “common people” that corruption under Peronist governments is a most predictable pattern.

The incredible scandals perpetrated during former president Cristina Kirchner’s government should have taught the Peronist masses something.

But it is not to be. They continue to opt for magical thinking over logic and therefore continue to believe in Peronists leaders.

Not a good legacy even back when

Although Juan Perón promoted some greatly needed social reforms benefitting the proletariat, many Argentines forget that the regime collapsed into a corrupt populist government.

To sustain itself in power, ideally perpetually, that government created a vast social group depending on government handouts and lacking the impetus toward employment and critical thinking.

This process began to play itself out in the 1990s. As would be expected, the subsequent damage to the country’s social fabric has been immense.

Germans have learned their lesson

The main difference between Germany post-1933 and Argentina in the 21st century is that Germany has learned from its grave errors at the time and focused on dealing with the subsequent socio-political trauma.

In Argentina, meanwhile, we repeat the same mistakes ad infinitum, to the point where we wonder if there is any exit from this Borgesian labyrinth.

Macri’s presidency

With the election in 2015 of former president Mauricio Macri, there was a period of hope for a break from Peronism.

Unfortunately, the bubble of optimism burst as Macri’s administration proved as inept as his Peronist predecessors. He was arrogant and blind to the people’s needs.

In all likelihood, he never realized that he held the key to the door out of the labyrinth.

Although Macri’s presidency established a semblance of normalcy in the country, including a renewed respect for the country’s institutions.

That respect has once again disappeared now that Cristina Kirchner formally serves as Argentina’s Vice President.

Purging the judicial system

Cristina Kirchner is using her influence over President Alberto Fernández to persecute her political adversaries and to purge the judicial system of all judges who do not have the authority — and the courage — to investigate her misdeeds.

It is tragic that Argentina has returned, yet again, to another incompetent and corrupt Peronist president, plus a revengeful Vice President.

Should Argentina have loved British imperialism?

Some Argentines say that the worst Argentine mistake was repealing the British invasions of the country (1806-1807). Had we let them win, perhaps Argentina would now be a prosperous country like Australia or New Zealand. Or so the tale goes.

Instead, Argentines still face the abyss. Only God knows whether we will be eventually able to rise above it and resume our path as part of the group of prosperous nations in the world.