Raúl Alfonsín’s Government: The Beginning of Political Polarization in Argentina

Argentina has just elected one of its most divisive politicians ever as president. This follows several years of democratic erosion and growing polarization. This article argues that political polarization is rooted in the way that democratic transition took place in Argentina. This shows, more generally, that the nature of democratic transition can continue to shape a country’s politics over many decades. The article offers an analysis of the Raúl Alfonsín government, emphasizing that the lack of political and economic agreements during the first democratic period planted seeds for the economic and political crises that battered Argentina from 1983 to 2023. It argues that the absence of political agreements explains the increasing political polarization that has been weakening democracy in the country. To explain these ideas, the article offers a detailed analysis of the political economy, government–trade union relations, and human rights policies implemented by the Alfonsín government.