Date of Award
Winter 2024
Degree Type
Honors Thesis
Major
International Studies
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
International Studies
First Advisor
Brian Dowd-Uribe
Second Advisor
Nora Fisher Onar
Third Advisor
Dana Zartner
Abstract
In 1976 the Argentine government was taken over by a right wing military junta, attempting to “save” their country from communism. Military officials kidnapped, tortured and killed between 10,000 and 30,000 Argentine citizens, who were thought of as “guerrillas” supporting the leftist government and the late president Juan Perón. These victims are regarded as the disappeared, or Los Desaparecidos; due to the fact their families had no knowledge of where their loved ones were taken, or what was happening to them. Many of these young, liberal advocates were never seen or heard from again, their remains lost to history, and their families lives forever changed by grief. This thesis strives to answer the question; How might communal trauma and political unrest resulting from Argentinas Los Desaparecidos impact the rise of the current president Javier Milei. My research analyzes the communal trauma evoked by Los Desaparecidos and how the stream of said trauma influenced Argentine society, economy and government. By comparing, contrasting and clarifying, I display why Los Desaparecidos may or may not have influenced the rise of a fierce libertarian leader such as Javier Milei. Through thorough and extensive investigation of both English and Spanish media, I explore the significance behind questioning if the effects of collective trauma impact the rationale leading to the inauguration of the current radical president. My general findings support the idea that Los Desaparecidos altered the political and economic system throughout Argentina. This being said, it can not be stated that the communal trauma and intense impingement of the war crimes solely impacted the election of President Javier Milei. In addition, other factors which influenced his uprising must be acknowledged.
Recommended Citation
Chain, Analise Sofia, "Historical Reappearance: Tracing the impacts of Argentina's Los Desaparecidos to the rise of President Javier Milei" (2024). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 75.
https://repository.usfca.edu/honors/75
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