Argentine politics during World War II has long been the subject of scholarly interest. Because of its stubborn neutrality, Argentina soon gained a reputation for being the haven of Hitlerism in the Western Hemisphere. So far, historians have focused on explanations that emphasize either political/ideological mechanisms or economic structures. Gisela Cramer’s analysis looks at economic developments in the context of political decision making. She is interested in the reactions and strategies that Argentine historical actors developed in the face of a major economic challenge.
The book is based on a broad variety of sources and organized chronologically, starting with an overview of Argentine economic development in the 1930s and followed by an in-depth analysis of the year of crisis, 1940. Part 3 discusses the policies of Ramón Castillo’s government (1941–43). The final chapters concentrate on the military regime from 1943 to 1946. The key issues are twofold: first, the interactions...
