Social inequality in contemporary Argentina

Most Latin American societies have been marked by underdevelopment and stark inequalities. In the mid-twentieth century, however, Argentinian society seemed to illustrate an alternative: high urbanization, full employment, universal healthcare and education, advanced intermediate industrializatio...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Salvia, Agustín, Rubio, María Berenice
Formato: Artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Sociological Association 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://repositorio.uca.edu.ar/handle/123456789/14375
Aporte de:
id I33-R139-123456789-14375
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Católica Argentina
institution_str I-33
repository_str R-139
collection Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA)
language Inglés
topic POBREZA
DESIGUALDAD SOCIAL
ESTRUCTURA SOCIAL
CRISIS ECONOMICA
CRISIS ECONOMICA
CRISIS POLITICA
DESEMPLEO
spellingShingle POBREZA
DESIGUALDAD SOCIAL
ESTRUCTURA SOCIAL
CRISIS ECONOMICA
CRISIS ECONOMICA
CRISIS POLITICA
DESEMPLEO
Salvia, Agustín
Rubio, María Berenice
Social inequality in contemporary Argentina
topic_facet POBREZA
DESIGUALDAD SOCIAL
ESTRUCTURA SOCIAL
CRISIS ECONOMICA
CRISIS ECONOMICA
CRISIS POLITICA
DESEMPLEO
description Most Latin American societies have been marked by underdevelopment and stark inequalities. In the mid-twentieth century, however, Argentinian society seemed to illustrate an alternative: high urbanization, full employment, universal healthcare and education, advanced intermediate industrialization and an extensive middle class – a relatively integrated society with moderate inequality and much social mobility. But this society changed dramatically, having to abandon its longed-for future of progress. Indeed, particularly at the end of the twentieth century, in the context of neoliberal structural reforms, Argentinian society could not avoid the trap of underdevelopment: economic liberalization, trade openness and financial flexibilization resulted in instability, rising unemployment, poverty and social marginality, with deteriorating public health, education and social protection. These processes produced a society marked by deep inequalities, internal conflicts and social unrest, a cycle that produced the economic, social and political crisis of 2001-2, the deepest in Argentina’s modern history. In contrast, the first decade of the 21st century, helped by a favorable international context, proved that some economic, occupational, social, political and institutional recovery was possible. But this period did not last long: the economy stagnated, and society’s structural fragmentation became evident once again. By 2015, Argentinian society included several different layers of marginalized, poor and excluded segments. About 30% of the population could be considered poor, with 6% living in extreme poverty, unable to afford adequate food for their household. Poverty was exacerbated by extensive urban marginality: 35% of the households did not have sewers, 20% lacked running water and 15% resided in precarious housing. In response to these impoverished social conditions, different readings have oscillated between denial, chauvinism and victimization. All too often, Argentinians imagine they live in a society that is homogeneous, cohesive, integrated and meritocratic, a stereotyped mythical image promoted by the state during the process of nation building, and later reinforced by the development of a relatively well-off urban middle class...
format Artículo
author Salvia, Agustín
Rubio, María Berenice
author_facet Salvia, Agustín
Rubio, María Berenice
author_sort Salvia, Agustín
title Social inequality in contemporary Argentina
title_short Social inequality in contemporary Argentina
title_full Social inequality in contemporary Argentina
title_fullStr Social inequality in contemporary Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Social inequality in contemporary Argentina
title_sort social inequality in contemporary argentina
publisher International Sociological Association
publishDate 2022
url https://repositorio.uca.edu.ar/handle/123456789/14375
work_keys_str_mv AT salviaagustin socialinequalityincontemporaryargentina
AT rubiomariaberenice socialinequalityincontemporaryargentina
bdutipo_str Repositorios
_version_ 1764820523399774210