British-Owned Railways in Argentina : : Their Effect on the Growth of Economic Nationalism, 1854-1948 / / Winthrop R. Wright.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter University of Texas Press Complete eBook-Package Pre-2000
• VerfasserIn: Wright, Winthrop R.,
• Place / Publishing House: Austin : : University of Texas Press, , [2021]; ©1974
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Series: LLILAS Latin American Monograph Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (318 p.)

During the nineteenth century, British-owned railways grew under the protection of an Argentine ruling elite that considered railways both instruments and symbols of progress. Under this program of support for foreign enterprise, Argentina had by 1914 built the largest railway network in Latin America. During the first decades of the twentieth century, the railways were successful in following a policy of calculated disregard for Argentine interests in general. However, following the end of World War I, the British economic empire began to decline and Argentine economic nationalism grew. A number of popularistic political movements incorporated economic nationalism into their platforms, and even among the ruling elite there were signs of increasing nationalistic sentiment. Although most studies of economic nationalism have emphasized the importance of the middle-class Radical party in the rise of xenophobia, Winthrop R. Wright's study shows that antiforeign economic nationalism was not entirely a reaction to the conservative elite. Between 1932 and 1938 the nationalistic programs of General Agustin Justo's government—basically a conservative regime—led the British interests to decide to sell their holdings. The British govemment had arrived at a position of supporting the economic withdrawal of the large British-owned firms long before Juan D. Perón appeared on the political scene. Perón combined traditional Argentine economic nationalism with his own scheme to gain power over all elements in Argentina. His solution to the railway problem, although more dramatically executed, did not differ greatly from that of the conservative Justo. Perón purchased the railways outright in 1947–1948, but his use of nationalism was in reality covering his own inability to outbargain Britain and the United States following the conclusion of World War II.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- MAPS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- Introduction -- 1. Opening the Door -- 2. The First Steps -- 3. The Golden Years -- 4. Railway Regulation -- 5. End of the Golden Age -- 6. The Radical Interlude -- 7. The Concordancia’s New Direction -- 8. The British Point of View -- 9. Transportation Coordination -- 10. Nationalization: The First Steps -- 11. The Transition -- 12. Perón and the Anglo-Argentine Trade Negotiations -- 13. The Closed Door: Outright Purchase -- Conclusion -- GLOSSARY -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX