Peronist and Non-Peronist Left Wings in the Party System in Argentina

Résumé 0

The party system in Argentina consists of a dual political spectrum, namely Peronists and non-Peronists, in which each faction extends from the radical left to the far right via the center. There are therefore two types of lefts in Argentina: one, non-Peronist (which is familiar in Europe), the other, Peronist. Since Kirchner?s inauguration as president in 2003, the Peronist left has been in power. This paper first examines the main features and actions of the Kirchner government in a range of important fields, thus enabling the identification of power strategies and positionings on the left-right axis. The various relationships between Peronism and social movements are also analyzed. The paper then introduces the two-dimensional political space that structures this dual political spectrum. Despite the disintegration of the party system since the 2001 crisis, this two-dimensional political space has remained remarkably stable. The paper also introduces in theoretical terms a new dimension in political analysis, which it labels "up-down" and which is perpendicular to the left-right dimension. The way in which these orthogonal axes structure a two-dimensional political stage is essential to an understanding of politics in Argentina as the positions adopted within this space determine the interaction of alliances and the respective social bases of the various political actors.