Carlos Ibarguren
Encyclopedia
Carlos Ibarguren Uriburu (April 18, 1877 - April 3, 1956) was an Argentine
academic, historian and politician. As a writer he was noted as one of the foremost academics of the history of Argentina as well as a leading expert on constitutional law
. Politically he was initially associated with the liberal
tendency amongst the country's intelligentsia before moving to far right
nationalism
in later life.
, in 1877. An academic by profession, Ibarguren was a professor of law at the University of Buenos Aires
, his alma mater. Recognised for his fine legal and constitutional mind from 1904 onwards he held a number of Undersecretary positions within the government. Utilising his experience Roque Sáenz Peña
appointed him as Justice Minister during his administration of Roque Sáenz Peña
, a position he held until 1914.
After this spell in office, Ibarguren continued as a supporter of the Radical Civic Union
for a time. However he became a founder of the Democratic Progressive Party
in 1914 and served as its Vice-President whilst also drafting its programme. In this role he became a strong critic of the government of Hipólito Yrigoyen
. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1920 legislative elections
, part of a list of intellectuals that included the likes of Lisandro de la Torre
and Ezequiel Ramos Mexía but which failed to make an impact with the voters. He was chosen as Democratic Progressive candidate for the 1922 Presidential election
, although he managed only 7.7% of the vote.
that defined Argentina's cultural elite but the setbacks of 1920 saw his positions alter. His book of the same year, La literatura y la gran guerra, demonstrated a shift to the nationalism
that was to come to dominate his political thought. He argued that democracy
left the door open to too many disparate groups and that it needed brakes which should be provided by a united conservative
right
. Politically Ibarguren grew interested in using the masses as a bulwark of reactionary activity and as such moved close to the ideas of fascism
.
Following the 1930 coup of Gen. José Félix Uriburu
, Ibarguren petitioned the new president to switch to corporatism
and this economic model came to dominate his thinking until, under Ibarguren's advice, Juan Perón
allowed the corporations to be represented in parliament in 1948. Despite this however, Ibarguren held no formal positions within the governments of either Uriburu or Perón and largely concentrated on his academic pursuits. His last political role of note was as De facto Federal Interventor of Córdoba
from 1930 to 1931, as post entrusted to him by Uriburu. Ibarguren died in Buenos Aires
, in 1956.
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
academic, historian and politician. As a writer he was noted as one of the foremost academics of the history of Argentina as well as a leading expert on constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
. Politically he was initially associated with the liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
tendency amongst the country's intelligentsia before moving to far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
in later life.
Early career
Ibarguren was born on SaltaSalta
Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Province. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of 464,678 inhabitants as of the , making it Argentina's eighth largest city.-Overview:...
, in 1877. An academic by profession, Ibarguren was a professor of law at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, his alma mater. Recognised for his fine legal and constitutional mind from 1904 onwards he held a number of Undersecretary positions within the government. Utilising his experience Roque Sáenz Peña
Roque Sáenz Peña
Roque Sáenz Peña Lahitte was President of Argentina from 12 October 1910 to 9 August 1914, when he died in office...
appointed him as Justice Minister during his administration of Roque Sáenz Peña
Roque Sáenz Peña
Roque Sáenz Peña Lahitte was President of Argentina from 12 October 1910 to 9 August 1914, when he died in office...
, a position he held until 1914.
After this spell in office, Ibarguren continued as a supporter of the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
for a time. However he became a founder of the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party (Argentina)
The Democratic Progressive Party is a provincial political party in Santa Fe, Argentina. It was founded by Lisandro de la Torre at the Savoy Hotel in Buenos Aires on December 14, 1914. One of its founders was the academic Dr...
in 1914 and served as its Vice-President whilst also drafting its programme. In this role he became a strong critic of the government of Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1920 legislative elections
Argentine legislative election, 1920
The Argentine legislative elections of 1920 were held on 7 March. Voters chose their legislators and numerous governors, and with a turnout of 53.0%, it produced the following results:-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:Notes: a) Seats left vacant....
, part of a list of intellectuals that included the likes of Lisandro de la Torre
Lisandro de la Torre
Lisandro de la Torre was an Argentine politician, born in Rosario, province of Santa Fe.De la Torre became a lawyer in 1890. His thesis about municipalities and communes, as well as other works of his, gave rise to the idea of municipal autonomy in Argentina, which was included in the Argentine...
and Ezequiel Ramos Mexía but which failed to make an impact with the voters. He was chosen as Democratic Progressive candidate for the 1922 Presidential election
Argentine presidential election, 1922
The Argentine general election of 1922 was held on 2 April. With a turnout of 55.2%, it produced the following official results:-President: aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:Notes: a) seats left vacant.-Argentine Senate:...
, although he managed only 7.7% of the vote.
Move to the right
Up to this point, Ibarguren had been associated with the liberalismLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
that defined Argentina's cultural elite but the setbacks of 1920 saw his positions alter. His book of the same year, La literatura y la gran guerra, demonstrated a shift to the nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
that was to come to dominate his political thought. He argued that democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
left the door open to too many disparate groups and that it needed brakes which should be provided by a united conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
right
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
. Politically Ibarguren grew interested in using the masses as a bulwark of reactionary activity and as such moved close to the ideas of fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
.
Following the 1930 coup of Gen. José Félix Uriburu
José Félix Uriburu
General José Félix Benito Uriburu y Uriburu was the first de facto President of Argentina, achieved through a military coup, from September 6, 1930 to February 20, 1932.-Biography:...
, Ibarguren petitioned the new president to switch to corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
and this economic model came to dominate his thinking until, under Ibarguren's advice, Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
allowed the corporations to be represented in parliament in 1948. Despite this however, Ibarguren held no formal positions within the governments of either Uriburu or Perón and largely concentrated on his academic pursuits. His last political role of note was as De facto Federal Interventor of Córdoba
De facto Federal Interventor of Córdoba
The De facto Federal Interventor of Córdoba was the person appointed to manage the province of Córdoba by one of the many military governments in Argentina following federal intervention...
from 1930 to 1931, as post entrusted to him by Uriburu. Ibarguren died in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, in 1956.
Writing
Ibarguren was especially noted for his work on the history of Argentina, with his most celebrated books being Juan Manuel de Rosas (1930), Las sociedades literarias y la revolución argentina (1938) and La historia que he vivido (1955). He also served as president of the Argentine Academy of LettersArgentine Academy of Letters
The Academia Argentina de Letras is the academy in charge of studying and prescribing the use of the Spanish language in Argentina. Since its establishment, on August 13, 1931, it has maintained ties with the Royal Spanish Academy and the other Spanish-language academies that are members to the...
.