David Rock

Machine Politics in Buenos Aires and the Argentine Radical Party, 1912–1930

From the introduction of the Saenz Pena Law in 1912 until the September Revolution of 1930, Argentina had its first experience of liberal representative government under an electoral system which accorded compulsory voting rights to the countrys native-born male population. In this paper it is proposed to explore certain characteristics of urban politics and patterns of mass political participation during this period, employing as an example the city of Buenos Aires. An attempt is made to describe and define the ‘machine’ character which urban politics acquired during this period at the same time as making some assessment of the relative importance of machine characteristics against those of other kinds. What is meant by the ‘machine character’ of politics are the specific techniques for the political support which is based upon the distribution to individuals of concrete rewards, such as bureaucratic offices, charity donations and petty personal privileges.

Latin America in the 1940s: War and Postwar Transitions.

War and postwar intersections - Latin America and the USA, David Rock Latin American economics in the 1940s, Rosemary Thorp internal trajectories versus external influences - Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela, Ruth Collier ELCA and the formation of Latin American economic doctrine, Paul Drake the populist gamble of Getulio Vargas in 1945, John French peace in the world and democracy at home - the Chilean Womens Movement in the 1940s, Corinne Antezana-Pernet why not corporatism? - redemocratization and regime formation in Uruguay, Fernando Lopez-Alves internal and external convergence - redemocratization and regime formation in Uruguay, Daniel Lewis the origins of the Green Revolution in Mexico - continuity or change?, Joseph Cotter labour control and the postwar growth model in Latin America, Ian Roxborough.