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We Are Millions

We Are Millions

Marcela Lopez Levy

(2003)

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Abstract

Neo-liberalism has claimed another victim: Argentina. Since the 1970s, a brutal transference of resources from the poor to the rich has taken place here. The wealthy have exploited the tools of neo-liberalism to make fast profits for themselves and international interests without a thought for the country's future. On the 19th and 20th December 2001, Argentines took to the streets in their millions and said "Enough!" to the plunder: they called it the "Argentinazo", and their demand was "que se vayan todos" - "out with the lot of them" - the corrupt politicans, the interfering IMF, the rapacious foreign companies and international banks. Two years on, it is clear that the Argentinazo was a turning point in the political life of the country. It was a wake-up call to citizens that they need to be more involved in the running of the country, or soon there will be no country left to run. "We are millions" looks at the politics which led to mass poverty and unemployment and describes the rich and varied social responses to economic meltdown and political crisis.

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Title Page iii
Copyright Page iv
Table of Contents v
Acknowledgements vii
Introduction 1
1: The Argentinazo 7
The Roar of the People and their Pots and Pans 7
From Riches to Rags 11
2: Great Expectations 17
Get Rich not Very Quick 17
Land, Capital and Workers 19
Box: The Economic Establishment in Argentina 20
Box: The Reduced History of Peronism 23
The Darkest Hour: The 1976 Coup 27
Disciplining Society: Economics under the Dictatorship 29
Debt upon Debt 34
Box: Illegal Debt 37
Return to Democracy in 1983 39
Box: Fear of Inflation 43
3: Risk and Responsibility 46
One Peso, One Dollar? 46
Box: Domingo Cavallo 47
Multiple International Failures: The Role of the IMF 52
Box: Greg Palast Interviews Joseph Stiglitz 54
It Takes Two to Tango 60
The Privatisation Bonanza 63
Roots of Discontent 69
4: High Hopes 74
Self-Appointed Agents of Change 74
'Piqueteros' 80
Box: Darío Santillán 87
Recovered Factories, Workers' Control 90
The Middle Class Joins in 98
Barter/Trueque 101
Neighbourhood Assemblies 106
The Legal Route 110
Loud and Clear 113
Conclusion 120
Crisis and Opportunity 120
Postscript 127
The Kirchner Factor 127
Glossary 136
Key Dates 138
Bibliography 141