This collection of essays explores a seminal event in Argentina's national imaginary—the Conquest of the Desert—whose meanings have been increasingly challenged in recent years by Mapuche activists and their allies. Consisting of an introduction and nine chapters written by scholars based in Argentina, Canada, and the United States, the volume disentangles “issues of nation, violence, memory, colonialism, and indigeneity” linked to a violent military campaign—and its aftermaths—waged by Argentine president Julio Roca against Indigenous inhabitants in northern Patagonia between 1878 and 1885 (p. 2). The authors succeed in presenting novel forms of evidence and sharing conceptual insights that challenge nation-building narratives told and retold by military officials, political elites, nationalist historians, and opportunistic entrepreneurs for nearly 150 years (and counting).
In addition to writing a clear and concise introduction, volume editor Carolyne R. Larson contributes a chapter that recounts the “official story” of Argentina's military campaign. Acknowledging the ethical ambiguity...
