PRÁCTICAS DE MEDIACIÓN Y CONFLICTO SOCIAL: UN ANÁLISIS DE CASO EN LA HISTORIA RECIENTE DE LA CIUDAD DE RÍO CUARTO

In the first months of 1995, a cycle of conflict with numerous social protests took place in the city of Río Cuarto, which marked a stalemate in the future of this town in the province of Córdoba. The roots of the conflict can be found both in the particular economic and social situation of the town, as well as in the financial crisis of the provincial government, triggered, among other factors, by the so-called “tequila crisis.” The central streets of Río Cuarto showed an intense mobilization of various actors almost daily, among which the teaching staff, the health staff and other employees of the provincial government stand out. In this context, the Catholic Church, through its diocesan bishop, Monsignor Ramón Staffolani, appeared as an important actor, articulating mediation practices aimed at resolving the conflict. The objective of this article is to analyze, from a socio-historical perspective, this practice of mediation, for which the dynamics of the framing protest will be described first, with its actors, demands, adversaries and repertoires used. Then the work focuses on the identification of the ecclesiastical actor who acted as mediator, recognizing his social position and the baggage of ideas that he represents, the mediating practices that he deployed, the moment of the protest in which his intervention became visible, as well as the proposal of intercession and the material and symbolic resources put into play in it. The research work is based on primary and secondary sources such as official statements, information and interviews published in the media and specific bibliography.