An analysis of the role of Latin American labor unions under democratization: the Argentine CGT's role under president Carlos Menem

Authors

Giselle Audrey De Bruno, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

International Studies

First Advisor's Name

Eduardo A. Gamarra

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Maria F. Willumsen

Third Advisor's Name

Mark D. Szuchman

Keywords

Labor unions -- Argentina -- Political activity

Date of Defense

11-18-1993

Abstract

Labor unions have played an important role in Latin American society. This is particularly true in Argentine, where the labor union movement gained strength in 1946 under the populist government of Juan Domingo Peron. When Carlos Menem, from the Peronist party, assumed presidency in 1989, the CGT, Argentina's labor confederation, expected traditional populism to return. Instead, Menem abandoned populism and aligned with the Conservative right to implement a neoliberal agenda.

This thesis explores the processes by which Argentine labor unions lost strength during the dual processes of democratization and market reforms. By analyzing the CGT since Menem become president, this study attempts to explain the role of labor unions under democracy, and the relationship between organized labor and government in the context of economic reforms and political transformation. Furthermore, this thesis argues that the decline of the CGT resulted form the implementation of neoliberal reforms.

Identifier

FI14062218

Recommended Citation

De Bruno, Giselle Audrey, "An analysis of the role of Latin American labor unions under democratization: the Argentine CGT's role under president Carlos Menem" (1993). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3013.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3013