Modernization and Politics: The case of San Luis

Clelia Guinazu

PhD Candidate ('ABD') at MIT Dept Political Science, Researcher at the Ministry of Culture and Education of Argentina, and at CITIDEP-Argentina. E-mail: clegui@mit.edu, guiniazu@criba.edu.ar, guiniazu@mail.retina.ar, mguinazu@profor.mcye.gov.ar

In the paper I characterize the modernization process that took place in San Luis since 1983 and its impact on local politics. Based on an ISI type of industrial promotion regime, this process was led by incumbent governor Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, the leader of the local Peronist party. I discuss views that stress the "patrimonial", "clientelistic", and even "nepotist" nature of Rodriguez Saa's rule in the province, arguing that the setting in motion of industrial promotion policies led to the constitution of a mixed type of political regime whose main features need to be further explored. In order to do so, I analyze (a) the industrialization "from above", (b) the emergence of a new, modernizing political elite within the Peronist party, (c) the process of state modernization, and (d) the transformation of political representation, focusing on (i) the Peronist party, (ii) the party system, (iii) the constitutional reform of 1986, and (iv) the emergence of a new ideological synthesis at both ruling party and state levels. I conclude that the hegemony of Peronism "a la Rodriguez Saa" in San Luis is characterized by (a) the strength of a modern state apparatus led by a new, management-oriented political elite, vis a vis (b) the weakness of the province's representative institutions, particularly of its political parties. I also stress that the comparatively "modern" nature of this regime has allowed the local political elite to secure effective governance after the structural adjustment package implemented by the national government since 1991. In the paper, I roughly sketch the changes brought about by structural adjustment in San Luis.




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