Political leadership and democratization in Argentina: Raúl Alfonsín and Carlos Menem

Thesis

This thesis examines the political leadership of presidents Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989) and Carlos Menem (1989-1999). I undertake a thorough study of their leadership to understand how the two presidents performed their political leadership during the Argentine democratization, why did it vary, and consequently, how it elucidates the notion of democratic leadership. The nature of the project is interdisciplinary—engaging with history and social sciences.

The thesis works on the premises that political leadership matters in shaping political, social and economic outcomes. Leadership is particularly crucial in countries with strong presidential systems, such as Argentina. Political leadership matters even more in times of crisis and important political processes, including democratization. The present study works with a specific subset of political leadership—democratic leadership. The analysis demonstrates that democratic leadership was performed and interpreted in different ways during Argentine democratization. Whereas Alfonsín aimed for the decentralization of the presidential power and strengthening of democratic institutions, Menem regularly disregarded the checks and balances and strived for centralization of the executive power. The presidents’ leadership largely reflected the two main Argentine political traditions, Radicalism and Peronism, both of which had historically distinct ideas of democracy and leadership. Although the presidents mostly continued aspects of these traditions, they also demonstrated ruptures stemming from own interpretations of their political circumstances. The project argues that both brought with them different understandings and experiences from their personal professional past that shaped their ideas and actions.

The work contributes to the existing literature on political leadership by highlighting the importance of studying it holistically. The Argentine democratization indicates the relevance of analysing political traditions and institutional arrangements, which also contribute to shaping leaders’ behaviour. The present study concludes that the different combinations of context, in which the leaders operated, and own agency resulted in two varied democratic leaderships.

Authors: Brickel-Curryová, E

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-qxrrk68vz
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English