Running Head: ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 1

Argentina and the World Bank;

Literature review on the impact of the World Bank on Argentinian Policies
Tiffany Pierce - 30020801
University of Calgary
November 6, 2016
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 2

Table of contents

Introduction ..........................................................................................................Page 3
Method...................................................................................................................Page 3
History...................................................................................................................Page 5
Influence of Neoliberalism ...................................................................................Page 7
Impact of Privatization .........................................................................................Page 9
The World Bank and Law .....................................................................................Page 12
The World Bank and Accountability ....................................................................Page 15
Programs Influenced by the World Bank ..............................................................Page 17
Conclusion ............................................................................................................Page 21
Limitations.............................................................................................................Page 22
Recommendations.................................................................................................Page 22
Appendix 1 ...........................................................................................................Page 27
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 3

Introduction

The World Bank has assisted over 50 developing countries in various areas of

development (Burns & Giessen, 2016) and loans 15 to 25 billion dollars a year to multiple

countries (Etchichury & Pacheco, 2014). It is no secret that the World Bank has a significant

presence throughout the developing world. The purpose of this literary review is to examine the

potential impact of the Global North on development in the Global South, specifically Argentina.

This review will answer the question; how does the World Banks influence on development

projects and policies impact the Argentinian citizens?

This topic will address the course objective of examining the scope of international social

development focusing by looking at the history of the relationship between the World Bank and

Argentina and the politics that are interrelated within. This literature review will attempt to

analyze methods to social development through programs that have been endorsed by the World

Bank throughout the country and the impact of those on social policy, politics, and the general

population

Methods

19 scholarly articles from various fields of study were reviewed for this literature review.

Selection criteria was based on the fact that the articles were scholarly, peer-reviewed, written in

English and were published no later than 2003. Searches were conducted six different databases

and the results are as follows:

Ebscohost - Argentina and World Bank in the Four articles, two that were relevant
Abstract

Scopus - Argentina and World Bank in the Thirty-two articles, seven relevant
Abstract
Academic Search Complete - Argentina and Eleven articles, three relevant
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 4

World Bank in the Abstract

English Econ Lit - Argentina and World Bank in Eleven articles, three relevant
the Abstract

University of Calgary Library Database - Thirty-two articles, fourteen relevant

Argentina and World Bank in the Abstract

Initial searches were conducted with both Argentina and World Bank required words in

the abstract of an article. This provide to be too great of a limitation and required an altered

search.

University of Calgary Library Database 3984 articles resulted

Argentina in the Abstract, World Bank in Social Work Thirteen articles, one relevant
the body Social Science Forty-five articles, one relevant

Argentina remained as a required word for the abstract and World Bank needed to be in

the body of text. Although this greatly increased the number of articles that were brought up in

the search, it also generated many articles that were not relevant as it included articles that had

simply cited the World Bank throughout the article. This final search took place in the University

of Calgary Librarys general database. This yielded 3984 articles. I chose to only peruse the

articles that fell under the social work and social science subject areas that would produce the

most relevant articles in regards to development and social rights.

Appendix 1 includes a table of the chosen articles. This table includes The article title,

abstract, full citation, and identification of key terms. Through the highlighting of these key

terms came the development of three common themes for the review.

As the literature shows, the policies and programs developed by the World Bank span

many different sectors. I intentionally included articles outside of the social science realm to
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 5

emphasize the wide impact of the World Bank in Argentina. Although an in-depth discussion of

the World Banks impact in each sector is beyond the scope of this paper, it aims to demonstrate

that the World Bank has created, or altered, policies and programs ins several different sectors of

Argentina and how this has impacted civilians and the development of the country.

The paper will first look at some of the economic and political history of Argentina and

the development of the countrys relationship with the World Bank. It will then continue to

describe three themes that emerged from the research. The first theme being the impact of

neoliberalism and how World Bank policies pushed these ideals of development, with a specific

discussion regarding the impacts of privatization. The second theme discussed the World Bank

and the law. The third theme looks at specific projects and policies that have been implemented

and impacted by the World Bank and how these projects have impacted Argentinas citizens. The

review concludes with a discussion of limitations, potential gaps in the research, and

recommended suggestions for moving forward.

History

Argentina is one of the over 50 developing countries that has a relationship with the

World Bank. The relationship between the World Bank and Argentina is one that can be

described as conflictual (Kedar, 2010 Kate Bedford, 2009). Kedar (2010) states that Argentina

did not become part of the World Bank until ten years after the rest of the Americas had been

invited to do so. Although the literature states that this had a great deal to do with Argentinas

president at the time, she disagrees. Kedar (2010) highlights that Argentina made several

attempts over the years to become part of the World Bank and declares that the exclusion of

Argentina from the formation years of the World Bank was intentional and a result of the fact

Argentina maintained a neutral stance throughout the second World War (2010). Kedar (2010)
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 6

also states that the exclusion of Argentina from these foundational events were signs of

discrimination towards a country who initially did not want to align itself with the United States.

As noted, the Argentinian government did make attempts to join the World Bank throughout the

years and one of the attempts to improve their standing with the World Bank was to adopt

liberalizing ideals that were being promoted by the World Bank and the International Monetary

Fund. Although Argentina is now part of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and

receiving loans, Kedar (2012) suggests that there are unresolved issues and remaining tension

within this relationship. Bedford (2009) would agree with this statement as she states that the

World Bank had numerous clashes with the 2003 elected president Nestor Kirchner because he

was elected on his anti-neoliberalism platform. The problems also continued afterwards when

his wife took office after him (Bedford, 2009).

By the 1980s much of Latin America, including Argentina, was in financial crisis

(Brachet-Mrquez et.al, 2012, Burns & Giessen, 2016, Ronconi, L et. al, (2009). The country

enacted some of the most stringent reform packages in the 1990s only to completely collapse in

the crisis of 2001 (Bedford, 2009) This crisis resulted in the poverty rates sky rocketing to 50%

of the population living in poverty (Bedford, 2009, Ronconi et. al, 2009, Etchichury, 2006).

Three million people were unemployed, one third of seniors had no income of their own, and 18

million people lacked medical insurance (Etchichury, 2006).

According to Sarah Burns and Lukas Giessen (2016) the countrys foreign debt was

multiplied during Argentinas authoritarian regime which heightened the importance of

international creditors in the country. This debt, according to Carmen Caba-Perezi, Antonio

Lpez-Hernndez, David Ortiz-Rodrguez (2009) was a result of decades of military coups who
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 7

had dictators that were more concerned with maintaining their positions of power than the

economy.

According to Viviane Brachet-Mrquez, Guillermo V. Alonso, and Mnica Uribe Gmez

(2012) it is during times of authoritarian or low-quality democratic environments that power

groups such as international creditor institutions tend to influence interest groups to the point of

having major influence on public policy especially in times of financial or economic crisis, much

like Argentina was by the end of 1980s (Brachet-Mrquez et.al, 2012, Burns & Giessen, 2016).

Caba-Perezi et. al (2009) also refers to the need of international assistance at the time noting that

the World Bank stated it was working with politicians that favored reform, that the World Bank

itself was not an initiator of these reforms but was simply supporting the governments request

for much needed economic assistance in overcoming the crisis. Vanden (2003) notes that in 2001

strikes, street demonstration and neighbourhood gatherings took the country by surprise and

ultimately forced the resignation of elected president Fernando de la Ra. Despite a new

president the unresolved economic crisis kept the Argentinian population angry and mobilized,

searching for a political force that would be able to end the crisis for the country.

Influence of Neoliberalism

According to Burns and Giessen (2016) neoliberalism is one of the most influential

discourses of our time (p. 504). Vanden (2003) notes that the backlash against neoliberalism is

rising throughout Latin America. The popular class was the most effected by neoliberal reforms

in Argentina and as a result had to bear the social costs of unemployment, low income, social

inequality, poverty, and social exclusion (Petras, & Veltmeyer, 2006). Despite numerous

instalments of neoliberal reform, the country saw very few positive results and economic growth.

These results were a far cry from the prosperity and economic growth that the World Bank and
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 8

neoliberal ideologies had promised (Petras, & Veltmeyer, 2006). These programs not only did not

bring the development they were supposed to, but they actually negatively affected the social

rights and status of civilians. Petras and Veltmeyer (2006) note that two decade of neoliberal

reform resulted in the deepening of social inequalities, poverty, and social crisis. This leads to the

conclusion that neoliberal reform is economically dysfunctional, exclusionary, and politically

unstable (Petras, & Veltmeyer, 2006).

In political and economical contexts such the one described above that are low-quality

democracies or authoritarian run, governments often use various channels to force reforms with

little regard to opposing forces or public opinions (Brachet-Mrquez et.al, 2012). It is in

instances such as these that give opportunity for policies that are potentially detrimental to

citizens are implemented. It is not uncommon for international financial institutions such as the

World Bank to threaten to withdraw loans as a method of influencing countries actions (Brachet-

Mrquez et.al, 2012; Kedar, 2012). Simply put, the World Bank uses its financial leverage within

countries to promote cultural change (Etchichury & Pacheo, 2014). This is a clear example of the

powers of the Global North to forcefully implement ideals on the Global South. Lopreite (2012)

notes the influential power of international ideas to infiltrate domestic discourses and policy

reform. She notes that the national state was more accepting of specific ideas promoted by the

World Bank because of the accessibility of their loans in a time of economic crisis (Lopreite,

2012)

In addition to the conditions that come with a loan from the World Bank, also comes

power. Being a receiver of loans from the World Bank has the power of increasing a countrys

credibility to other foreign investors (Burns and Giessen, 2016) which can also be an influencing

factor for a country when deciding to accept a loan or not.

ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 9

Burns and Giessen (2016), Etchichury (2006), Etchichury and Pacheco (2014), and Tuzzo

(2009) all make note of the neoliberal policies that are present within the development of World

Bank policies and programs. Privatization, market deregulation, and trade liberalization are

characteristics of the neoliberalism policies that the World Bank promotes (Burns & Giessen

2016; Etchichury, 2006). Horacio Javier Etchichury (2006) went so far to describe the years

leading up to the social crisis of 2002 in Argentina as a decade long neo-liberal experiment

which landed Argentina in an unparalleled social crisis. Many feminist groups, NGOs,

community-based organizations went so far as arguing that there was crisis within individual

family units as a result of the neoliberal reforms (Bedford, 2008).

Privatization and the impact of World Bank policies on citizens

Despite what World Bank officials say, Howard Waitzkin, Rebeca Jasso-Aguilar, and

Celia Iriart (2007) argue that the expansion of privatized insurance policies while minimizing the

publicly insured services, does not improve the quality of health services for people. They state

that the opposite is true, that a shift to privatized health services have increased costs and

amplified access barriers for the poor (Waitzkin et. al, 2007). It is argued that the forced

reductions in the public sector actually increased economic crisis and led to the eventual collapse

of the Argentine economy. Major cutbacks to important health services, specifically for elderly

and disabled people was one major result of this collapse (Waitzkin et. al, 2007). Despite data

that shows an increase in co-payments, worsening mortality date and additional hostile outcomes

for older and disabled people, Argentina is continuously asked to deepen reforms that would

further privatize the social and medical areas (Waitzkin et. al, 2007). In this context it is easy to

see how the World Banks influence has had serious implications for the Argentinian people.
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 10

In another situation dealing with privatization, Brachet-Mrquez et. al (2012) discuss the

imposed reforms on social insurance for pension and retirement in Argentina. The article

recognizes that even though the reform was proposed by Argentine technocrats there was a

strong link to international finances. Interests from the private sector were a powerful force

fighting for the reform of the Argentine public health system (Brachet-Mrquez et. al, 2012).

Lloyd-Sherlock (2006) concedes this point and adds that there are even neo-liberal organizations

who note the lack of positive results in the move to privatize health care.

Etchichury (2006) also referenced privatization in regards to health care. He noted that

the World Bank has moved forward on minimizing available subsidies and shifting towards other

options for which people may pay for, proposing that health services in Argentina should be

accessed on an effective demand basis. This method, instead of access to services being a right,

would potentially keep the poor population in a disadvantaged situation. Instead of developing

forward, it is actually a step back. He notes that as the World Bank advances the elimination of

subsidies, access to crucial services are in jeopardy of becoming services that require pay

(Etchichury, 2006). Instead of promoting universal access to services in Argentina, the World

Bank promotes fair terms of access and self-help solutions (Etchichury, 2006). Which are

common ideals under neoliberalism.

Yet another author, Lloyd-Sherlock (2006), writes about the deficiencies within the health

sector as it pertains to Social Health Insurance (SHI) programs. The SHI program in Argentina is

a program that participants pay into and then either get services from, or the services are

contracted to a third party system. Those who make contributions have the potential for

contributions to be matched by their employers, but those who do not make contributions are not

entitled to any SHI services (Lloyd-Sherlock, 2006). Contrary to the intentions of the SHI, it was
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 11

well known that these programs heightened inequality and inefficiencies throughout the health

sector. In 1997 the World Bank said that their intentions, with those of the Argentinian

government were to provide universal coverage for all (Lloyd-Sherlock, 2006). Despite those

promises, the World Bank continued to be part of the small group of elites who actually

controlled the policy decisions, and were not focused on universal health care (Lloyd-Sherlock,

2006) In a move that is in-line with neoliberal policies and counterproductive to universal care,

the World Bank instituted full competition for the SHI stating that employees were able to

choose whether they took coverage from the SHI, or a private institution of their choice.

Throughout this process it was clear that the changes to reforms taking place were made with

consideration to the financial costs, not the implications the reforms would have on the health

sector itself (Lloyd-Sherlock, 2006). Again, this example emphasizes the World Banks

movement on social policies without a greater consideration for the impact on citizens.

Maria Tuzzo (2009) discusses the corruption that often followed policies such as

privatization and state reform policies were the result of monetary stabilization schemes

supported by the World Bank. Despite the programs and technical schemes shaped by the World

Bank, executives maintained control of these policies and resulted in controversial results

(Tuzzo, 2009). The lack of transparency of decision making processes regarding policy decisions

was evident in the several privatizations shifts that happened very quickly. Widespread

corruption in situations such as this greatly impacted the credibility of institutions (Tuzzo, 2009).

Not only has privatization affected health systems, and pension plans, but has also

specifically impacted workers social rights (Etchichury, 2006). Etchichury highlights the

dismantling of the railway system which transferred partial power to the private sector and
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 12

resulted in a 70% reduced labor force which resulted in extensive social impact.

The World Bank and Law

Etchichury (2006) analyzes the relationship of the World Bank and other international

financial institutions with Argentina through a legal lens of judicial review. The World Bank and

other international financial institutions have encouraged policies that have a visible impact on

human rights and particularly social rights, because a great deal of budget cuts affect health care

and education (Etchichury, 2006). This was highlighted throughout the discussion in the previous

section. International financial institutions consider themselves to be technical, apolitical

institutions and that human rights do not fall under their mandate (Etchichury, 2006). Under this

distinction, the World Bank has no requirements to take human and social rights into

consideration during a discussion of policy reforms with a nation, despite what the borrowing

countrys obligations might be under their own national or international law. For example, the

Bank suggested Argentina pass Higher Education laws which would inherently contradict

Argentinas constitutional right to free education for their citizens (Etchichury, 2006). This is a

meaningful example of the impact that the World Bank can have on peoples rights, whether they

know it or not.

Not only do international financial institutions such as the World Bank not consider

human rights to be binding limits in policy development, but these institutions underrate social

rights at a theoretical level as well (Etchichury, 2006). In a 2001 report, The International

Monetary Fund is quoted as describing social rights as being somewhat removed from the

realities of todays internally and externally, open economy (Etchichury, 2006).

There are important implications in understanding the complexities of state duties, of

being a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 13

(ICESCR) and being a client of international financial institutions (Etchichury, 2006).

Discrepancies between suggested reforms and constitutional rights has the potential of evoking

institutional crisis. It is easy to understand how disagreements may arise considering the various

belief systems at play. Every judicial decision regarding international financial institutions has

international consequences. For example, if a judge makes a ruling that a World Bank program is

unconstitutional, it could potentially affect how Argentina looks internationally, and possibly

impact their foreign relations (Etchichury, 2006).

The government may feel pressure from the World Bank and other international

institutions to impose specified measures, yet those who are affected by said reforms may

challenge them through judicial review (Etchichury, 2006). The majority of cuts to social

spending can fall under judicial review and the court has often upheld workers rights despite

economic hardship (Etchichury, 2006). For example, in 2002 the Supreme Court struck down a

proposal that intended to cut public employee wages by 13%, due to scarcity of work economic

troubles at the time (Etchichury, 2006). Impactful decisions from the Supreme Court such as this

one emphasize the potential for judicial reviews to provide assistance to the government in the

face of reform pressures from international financial institutions (Etchichury, 2006).

Stphanie de Moerloose (2015) also looks at the World Banks impact from a legal

perspective. She discusses the idea of sustainable development and the legal transplantation of

sustainable development through World Bank policies (Stphanie de Moerloose, 2015). The

World Bank has developed their own definition of sustainable development which is an integral

part of their strategies (Stphanie de Moerloose, 2015). The implementation of sustainable

development covers social, economic, and environmental sustainability and takes place through a
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 14

range of actions including financial lending and technical assistance (Stphanie de Moerloose,

2015)

Safeguard policies outline the procedures that must be followed by World Bank staff as

well as what the borrowing country must adhere to in order to receive the funds (Stphanie de

Moerloose, 2015). Moerloose (2015) describes the Safeguards and international treaties that are

developed for each agreement within the World Bank. She notes that because these Safeguard

laws and sanctions are often stricter than national legislation these sanctions have the potential to

affect change at a country level. She emphasizes that because these policies have the power to

determine what the borrower must do, these policies become conditions placed on the borrowers

actions (Stphanie de Moerloose, 2015).

The implications of Safeguard policies can be tied to Kedars (2012) statement that

institutions have the power to approve or deny loans, and they use this power as a tool to

influence member countries. Lopreite (2012) also notes the power that the World Bank loans

hold. She argues that the accessibility of World Bank loans have the ability to encourage the

wider acceptance of international ideas, especially in times of economic hardship (Lopreite,

2012). But in opposition to Kedar (2012) and Lopreite (2012), de Moerloose (2015) maintains

that borrowers retain control in collaboration with the World Bank regarding the sanctions put

forward. She states that because the borrowers have the ability to refuse an agreement, or

renegotiate the conditions put forward, that borrowers maintain power within these negotiations

and that the World Bank is not impeding on the countrys policy making ability (de Moerloose,

2015). Etchichury and Pacheo (2014) and Taekyoon Kim (2011) contradict Moreloose (2015),

stating that the decision making processes in the World Bank are not democratic. Etchichury and

Pacheo (2014) explain that the voting power depends on the number of shares a country has and
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 15

richer countries have more influence, therefore, not all voices are heard equally. Kim (2011)

notes that there are several deficits within the World Bank system that affect the democratic

process. She argues that the non-transparent selection process of the World Bank heads, the

unequal representation on the executive board, and the structural limit of one-dollar-one-vote

affect the democracy of the World Bank (Kim, 2011). Kedar (2012) recognizes that the World

Bank even holds power to influence countries that are not yet part of the World Bank. This was

the case of Argentina. The country began adopting specific economic reforms even before its

membership with the World Bank in attempts to increase its desirability of becoming a potential

member.

The World Bank and Accountability

Taekyoon Kim (2011) would agree with Etchichurys (2006) statement that international

financial institutions are lacking a focus on social rights, but she approaches the subject from the

frame of accountability. Kim (2011) believes that there is insufficient discussion regarding the

lack of accountability in international institutions such as the World Bank and the International

Monetary Fund. She states that there is no accountability to the state powers whose decisions

affect billions of people that are excluded from the domestic processes (Kim, 2011). The World

Bank has been accused of being secretive, non-participatory, and unaccountable on numerous

occasions. As a response, The World Bank created the World Bank Inspection Panel (Panel) in an

attempt to overcome structural deficits in accountability (Kim, 2011). The Panel is designed to be

a public accountability mechanism that allows the World Bank and Non Governmental

Organizations (NGO) to make claims to assess the World Banks accountability for social

policies (Kim, 2011).

ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 16

Kim (2011) highlights two main complications that the Panel is bound to encounter. The

first is the concept of abuse of the Panel. This would take place when there is an excessive

amount of claims for the Panel to review. This ultimately leads to over-use of the Panel which

requires a great deal of money and time. The excessive emphasis on external accountability

ultimately becomes counterproductive in efficiency and cripples the World Banks ability to

actually implement the proposed projects (Kim, 2011).

Opposite of this problem is a version of manipulated accountability. This allows the

World Bank to publically create the image of enhancing their accountability by opening an

official method for claims and legal action (Kim, 2011). Meanwhile, the Panel still maintains the

ability to restrain the claims that come through, which results in very few claims actually

investigated, and several cases did not even receive a final report from the Panel, or the

investigation was closed before completion (Kim, 2011). Overall, the Panels intentions to

improve accountability are actually dimmed by the internal constraints manipulating the process

and ultimately minimizes the legitimacy of their accountability progress (Kim, 2011). In both of

these situations the Panel is unable to fulfill its intended purpose of holding the World Bank

more accountable to its actions and therefore working better for the clients.

An example of the lack of accountability within Argentina can be seen within their Social

Budget Condition loan that included 680 million USD to ensure ongoing the support of listed

social safety net programs (Kim, 2011). Due to impending elections the Argentine government

opted to hoard the loan in favor of programs that were used for political clientalism. The

redistribution of this money resulted in many of the social programs destined to receive money to

suffer deep budget cuts, almost completely erasing programs from the loan entirely (Kim, 2011).
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 17

The lack of accountability highlighted here exemplifies the potential impact for civilians,

particularly those who rely on social programs.

Kate Bedford (2009) highlights a lack of accountability in a different form. Bedford

(2009) discusses the development of the Family Strengthening and Social Capital Promotion

Project (PROFAM) in Argentina. PROFAM was a World Bank funded initiative focused on

gender equality and family strengthening (Bedford, 2009). Throughout its development

PROFAM maintained close partners with the Church, despite the fact that all World Bank work

is explicitly forbidden from funding religious activities (Bedford, 2009). This raises problems

with those demand removal of the state from the Church and raises questions about the directions

of PROFAM being that the program was being driven by the Churchs participation (Bedford,

2011). The lack of action towards the World Bank despite the clear violation of their own policy

again emphasizes a gap in accountability for the World Bank.

Programs influenced by the World Bank

It is evident that the World Bank has an influence in many different sectors. Etchichury

and Pacheo (2014) argue that despite the fact the World Bank considers itself to be a knowledge

bank and technical institute, that it is not diverse enough. Despite the wide national diversity of

the economics who work at the World Bank, Etchichury and Pacheo (2014) reason that many of

these economists come from similar economic environments mainly universities in the United

States. The similarity in education of these economics leads to a lack of diversity in policy

measures and does not encourage the World Bank to look at the possibility of unique

development measures from other institutions. In relation to this, Maria F. Tuzzo states that many

of the Banks institutional judicial reforms adopted by Argentina were inadequately designed for

the country, and the World Banks involvement in these reforms had direct impact on the nature,
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 18

reach, and depth of the initiatives (Tuzzo, 2009). As a result, the adoption of these inadequately

designed reforms resulted in the reinforcement of exclusionary practices (Tuzzo, 2009). Tuzzo

(2009) notes that despite many local reform projects available, the one implemented in her study

was developed elsewhere and then brought in to Argentina. Components of the project then had

to be adapted to suit the Argentinian needs but Tuzzo (2009) argues that the fact the reform was

not developed specifically for the Argentinian context resulted in many challenges for the

program. She also critiques the World Banks attempts to be apolitical in nature which ignores

the potentially important political struggles within the country (Tuzzo, 2009).

Although the importation of a plan to develop reforms was not successful in the previous

example, Veronica Raffo (2013) presents a different perspective. She states that the Safety Net

Approach used to facilitate the development of the Argentinian Road Safety Project was also an

approach developed outside of the country. She notes that the structure was an imported idea

that they then collectively adjusted to the Argentinian context. Ruffo (2013) notes that a major

key to success in the current success of this project thus far was the fact that the project

guidelines were developed around the unique context and situations present in Argentina at that

time.

Within the forestry sector Burns and Giessen (2009) note the impact of neoliberalism on

strong bureaucracies. The Deregulation Decree was signed in 1991 with the intent of turning the

political economy towards neoliberalism that promoted trade (Burns & Giessen, 2009). This was

done through ending protective regulation of the economy as well as dismantling all current

bureaucracies that were currently in charge of these systems (Burns & Giessen, 2009). Burns and

Giessen (2009) state that it was the request for assistance from the World Bank that allowed the

Bank access to create and adapt policies within the forestry sector. As intended, this access to
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 19

policy resulted in the dismantling of a strong and comprehensive forestry bureaucracy as a

method of ensuring that transformation of the forests to more profitable means that favored the

agricultural sector (Burns & Giessen 2009).

Lopreite (2012) and Bedford (2009) discusses the impact of the World Bank in the

movement of gender policies and womens rights within Argentina. Lopreite (2012) emphasizes

that the World Bank has been an active supporter of womens reproductive health as part of its

poverty reduction plan and Bedford (2009) notes that the Argentina World Bank office was the

first to request a gender audit on its operations.

In another similarly focused gendered article Bedford (2008) Argues that the World Bank

used PROFAM and the idea of family strengthening as a poverty eradication strategy that evaded

focus on the individual structural issues. Focus was shifted from mothers entering the workplace

as fathers were to assume more active care roles in the family, but this clouded the space of

developing effective child care options (Bedford, 2008). Another example of policies that

minimize actual development while emphasizing the increased responsibility placed on the role

of the individual.

With a maternal mortality rate in Argentina is 77 for 100,000 live births which is

extremely high in comparison to a rate of 16 for 100,000 in other comparable countries (de

Moerloose, 2015) maternal health was an area of great concern for Argentina. As a result of the

World Banks focus, maternal health is now seen as an important way of providing equal

opportunities for the poor (Lopreite, 2012). These are ideals that are congruent with the World

Banks overarching interests of reducing poverty, reproductive health, and addressing economic

growth. The banks promotion of reproductive health became an important issue within

Argentina that needed.

ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 20

Reproductive rights were not officially recognized in Argentina until 1994 after the Cario

Conference, and still the government resisted the idea of reproductive rights because the then-

president Menem interpreted reproductive rights as being synonymous with abortion and

supporting abortive methods of contraception (Lopreite, 2012). Despite the differing national

views on reproductive rights, after the crisis in 2001 the state was more accepting of international

ideas. Lopreite (2012) attributes this shift to acceptance to the accessibility of World Bank loans

in a time when they were much needed.

Despite her criticisms on accountability regarding the World Bank, Bedford (2009)

reinstates that there is gender consideration taking place within World Bank policies, research,

and project designs. Although she notes that there is a great deal of room for growth in this area,

she recognizes the World Bank as a welcomed ally to feminist organizations who are attempting

to legitimize the gender debate (Bedford, 2009).

Programa Trabajar was a workfare program that targeted that was implemented with

the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank that focused on poor and unemployed

people with a focus of increasing their current income (Ronconi, et. al, 2009). Through this study

Ronconi et. al, (2009) study the impacts of the workfare program. While recognizing limitations

of the study, Ronconi et. al, (2009) stated that they recognize their results may not be true effects

of the program because of the potential for participant incorrect reporting. Despite limitations of

the study Ronconi et. al, (2009), argue that there has been significant evidence to prove that

workfare programs are not as effective in reducing short-term poverty situations as has been

previously reported. Although this does not necessarily mean that the program needs to be

eliminated, but further considerations on the long term effect on participants, income inequality,

and indirect benefits it creates need to be investigated further (Ronconi et. al, 2009). Although
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 21

this qualitative study does not discuss in detail the effects of this program on citizens social

welfare, it does indicate World Bank attempts at developing programs to assist in alleviating

poverty.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Despite the small scale of this literature review it is evident that the World Bank plays a

role in a wide spectrum of policy areas. A key learned message from this review is that the

policies and programs implemented by the World Bank do, in fact, impact the development and

ultimately the wellbeing of Argentinian citizens. This often takes place in the form of

international and Global North ideals being imposed onto the Global South in the form of

policies and programs through loans from the World Bank.

It is apparent that the because of the vast range of areas impacted by the World Bank a

more detailed review would be beneficial in developing deeper understanding of the impacts of

the World Bank in each individual sector. Although the analysis of the impact of the World Bank

in Argentina from this literature was largely negative, it is important to note the positive aspects

highlighted. One, a case study that recognizes the potential positive impacts World Bank policies

can have. The study on Argentinian road safety reforms is on-going and has strong potential to

reach its intended targets. It is noteworthy that this was the only article that emphasized that the

policy was developed while taking the unique Argentinian context into consideration.

Another important positive impact the World Bank has facilitated in Argentina is that

surrounding the gender debate. The World Banks focus on reproductive rights brought the

subject into significant debate within Argentina and assisted in the promotion of reproductive

rights throughout the country.

ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 22

Limitations

One main limitation of this literature review is the fact it only included English articles.

If one were to conduct the same review including Spanish articles, the results are likely to be

more comprehensive. Another limitation is that the search did not result in any articles that

provided a bottom-up view of situations. They all presented a macro examination of their topic

areas. Again, had the search included Spanish articles this may have had a different result. A

potential downfall of only reviewing scholarly articles is that less established writings published

by NGOs or community organizations will be overlooked. Being that these are the organizations

that would be most affected by the policies their voice is one of great importance that is likely

missing.

Although this review was successful in its intent to emphasize the broad scope of impact

of the World Bank in Argentina in regards to development and social welfare of citizens, in order

for it to truly have emancipatory effects for citizens I believe a more in-depth, sector-based

search is required.

Recommendations

There are several general recommendations I would make in light of this research that

would allow it to be used in an emancipatory way of improving lives of Argentinian citizens.

The first, is that future World Bank policies need to make a more legitimate effort to

collaborate with the appropriate Argentinian officials in policy development. This would ensure

that policies not only utilize available local talent and resources, but would also assist in the

consideration of local and cultural context that may be relevant at that time. This would ensure

that the World Bank is implementing contextually appropriate projects, and would also enhance
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 23

the probability of the success of projects. This would result in a better usage of loan money, and

would contribute more sustainable, and useful developmental projects for Argentinian citizens.

The second recommendation would be to put forth a more comprehensive analysis of the

impacts of privatization and the effects it has on the Argentinian people. Even in this short

analysis it is evident that the move towards privatization in Argentina has had detrimental effects

on citizens, clearly it is an approach that needs to be more adequately studied before a decision is

made. With more research and a comprehensive report, it is more likely the information would

be able to properly inform policy makers about the actual impacts of privatization. This would

provide factual results that policy makers would be able to present as evidence. This could allow

them to feel better equipped and confident to disagree with proposed World Bank policies. This

would be an important step moving forward for the advocacy of the Argentinian citizens.

My third recommendation would be for Argentinians to continue to use the World Bank

to promote ideals that are important for them throughout the country, much like they did with

reproductive rights. This would potentially give a bigger voice to smaller, underrepresented

groups. One needs to be careful when approaching this as it needs to be a delicate process to

undertake as one would have to ensure that the ideals truly are for the benefit of the wider

majority, and not just an elite few.

Forth, because it became evident throughout the review that the World Bank and other

international financial institutions are not held to high standards of accountability, a renewed

system of accountability needs to be developed. This will be the most difficult change to enact,

being that the Argentinian government has struggled with corruption as well, but it may be the

most important. If the World Bank is held more accountable to their actions, specifically

regarding the maintenance of social rights, it will greatly improve the quality of life these
ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 24

projects bring to the citizens. Without a renewed accountability and legitimacy of the World

Bank it is unlikely that anything will change.

ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 25

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 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 28

Appendix 1 Search Articles

Article Full Abstract Citation Key Words

The appropriation In this paper the author compares the factors that Lardone, M. (n.d.). The Argentina
of the World Bank influence state reform ownership of World Bank appropriation of the World World Bank
policies? Political intervention. World Bank intervention is defined as Bank policies? Political State reform
commitment and the loans destined to public administration reforms commitment and Influence
sustainability of since the beginning of the 90s and the different sustainability of State reform Reform Program
State reform country strategies formulated by the World Bank programs in Argentina and Ownership
programs in during this period. The comparison contrasts two Chile. GCG Georgetown
Argentina and divergent cases, Argentina and Chile, with regards to University - Universia, 2(2),
Chile the relation of each country with the Bank, and also 60-72. Retrieved from DOI
concerning their financial and fiscal evolutions and 10.3232/ GCG.2008.
the characteristics of their state apparatus. The paper V2.N2.03
demonstrates that the idea of ownership is limited in
order to understand the performance of each country
in relation to the technical and financial assistance
given by the Bank. More relevant are the State
structures and political trajectories in the ownership
of the reform program
Chronicle of an Argentina joined the International Monetary Fund Kedar, C. (2012). Chronicle Argentina
Inconclusive (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction of an inconclusive World Bank
Negotiation: Pern, and Development (World Bank) in 1956ten years negotiation: Peron, IMF
the International later than all other American nations and only one the International Tool of
Monetary Fund, year after President Juan Perns overthrow. This fact Monetary Fund, and imperialism
and the World Bank has led scholars to conclude that Pern refused to the World Bank Negotiations
(1946 join the Fund and Bank because he considered them (1946-1955). Hispa Economic policy
to be tools of US imperialism. This article reveals nic American Liberal
that, contrary to populist depictions of Pern, he Historical
made significant efforts to make Argentina a member Review, 92(4), 637-
of the IMF and the World Bank. In effect, between 668.
1946 and 1955 Pern conducted intensive and almost doi:10.1215/001821
continuous negotiations with the IMFs and World 68-1727891
Banks most senior officials. During this period of
confidential negotiations, Perns economic policies
became more flexible and liberal
Contradictions of This study sets out to investigate the structural Kim, T. (2011). World Bank
Global contradictions of accountability deficits in global Contradictions of global Argentina
Accountability: social governance, with the particular reference to the accountability: The world Accountability
The World Bank, World Bank Inspection Panel and its associated bank, development NGOs, Global Social
Development development NGOs. In theorizing global social and global social Policy
NGOs, and Global policy as a new field of social policy agendas, less governance. Global Social
Social Governance attention has been hitherto paid to the notion of Journal of International and Governance
accountability, which should have been placed at the Area Studies, 18(2), 23-47. International
centre of discourses on global social governance. Retrieved from NGOs
Given the absence of central global government http://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.c Social problems
which can enforce the accountability mechanism, the a/login?url=http:// Controlling
World Banks attempt to embrace external actors search.proquest.com/docvie System
particularly, international NGOs as key w/963693741?
stakeholders contributes to filling the accountability accountid=9838
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 29

gaps, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of the Banks

intervention in globalised social problems. This study
aims to locate not only the intersection of the
accountability problem and global social policy, but
also some structural dilemmas embedded in the
accountability of policy transfers from global
institutions to national social policy. By taking the
two investigation cases of the World Bank Inspection
Panel (China and Argentina), it identifies two modes
of contradictions of global accountability: (i) the
abused which results from the overemphasis on
accountability, thereby sidelining the Banks
effective functions; and (ii) the phased denial which
is the negative outcome of the Banks deliberate
controlling system designed to reduce the number of
accountability request
Dismantling By the end of the 1980s, Argentina was in the middle Sarah L. Burns & Lukas Argentina
Comprehensive of a severe economic crisis. In 1991, the Giessen (2016) Dismantling World Bank
Forest Deregulation Decree, which steered the political Comprehensive Forest Economic crisis
Bureaucracies: economy toward a new neoliberal policy, dismantled Bureaucracies: Direct Neoliberal
Direct Access, the the Argentine National Forestry Institute (IFONA), Access, the World Bank, Bureaucracy
World Bank, an autonomous bureaucracy responsible for forests. Agricultural Interests, and Policy
Agricultural The aim of this study is to analyze the influence the Neoliberal Administrative Intervention
Interests, and World Bank exerted on domestic forest policymaking Reform of Forest Policy in
Neoliberal and bureaucratic reform in Argentina. We selected Argentina, Society & Natural
Administrative the interventions of the World Bank in the Resources, 29:4, 493-508,
Reform of Forest Argentinian forest and agricultural policy that started DOI:
Policy in Argentina in the early 1990s and still continues today. We use a 10.1080/08941920.2015.108
qualitative case-study design building on content 9608
analysis of policy documents. The World Bank
interventions through funding figured prominently, in
the form of new forest laws that, as a whole,
benefited plantation forests and regulated soy
production expansion. This policy was found to be
supported by a coalition of the World Bank,
agricultural interests, and private landowners
Estimates of the In 1996 the Argentine government, with financial and Ronconi, L., Alzua, M., & Argentina
Benefit Incidence technical assistance from the World Bank, Shady, D. (2009). Estimates World Bank
of implemented a temporary public works program of the benefit incidence of Financial and
Workfare/Comment known as Programa Trabajar. The program was workfare. Economa, 9(2), Technical
s targeted toward poor and unemployed people, and a 129-145. Assistance
main objective was to increase the current income of doi:10.1353/eco.0.0029 Program
recipients. Program participants received a maximum implementation
benefit of 200 pesos per month (equal to the legal Community
minimum wage) in exchange for working in Project
community projects. In this paper, the author uses
alterative samples of workfare participants in
Argentina to reassess targeting and income effects
between 1997 and 2002. The next section explores
poverty targeting using four samples of workfare
participants collected by the National Institute of
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 30

Statistics and Censuses (INDEC). The paper then

computes average income effects during treatment
using longitudinal data between October 2000 and
May 2002, controlling for pretreatment income and
unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity.
Gender and This article examines the gendered nature of Bedford, K. (2009). Gender Argentina
institutional institutional strengthening policies at the World and Proinstitutional World Bank
strengthening: the Bank, as part of an attempt to analyse what role strengthening: the Institutional
World Banks gender plays in the institutionalist turn within World Bank's policy strengthening
policy record in development policy. It focuses on three snapshots of record in Latin policies
Latin America Bank action wherein debates about gender and America. Contempo Gender roles
institutional strengthening are particularly pertinent: rary Politics, 15(2), Development
Washington, DC policy texts and Presidential 197-214. policy
speeches; gender policy enacted in the Latin doi:10.1080/135697 Family
American and Caribbean region; and an Argentine 70902858137 strengthening
project loan on social capital promotion and family Social capital
strengthening. Two themes emerge from these sites: promotion
(1) that couplehood between men and women has Reform agenda
been identied as a key informal institution necessary
for development; and (2) that gender reform has been
positioned as an institutional change issue requiring
attention to issues such as social marketing. New
norms about gender interaction thus emerge as an
explicit part of the Banks reform agenda, and are
shaping project experiences across Latin America
GLOBAL The article describes the tensions between two Etchichury, H. J., & Argentina
FORCES AND competing approaches to scientific policy in Pacheco, M. C. (2014). World Bank
LOCAL Argentina. The traditional vision favors autonomous Global forces and local Research
CURRENTS IN research. The neoliberal conception fosters the link currents in Argentina's Neoliberal
ARGENTINA'S between science and markets. In the past few years, a science policy crossroads: Science and
SCIENCE POLICY neodevelopmentalist current also tries to stress restricted access or open Markets
CROSSROADS: relevance of scientific research. Finally, the article knowledge. Athenead, 14(3) Scientific
RESTRICTED describes how the Open Access movement has , 105-127. research
ACCESS OR entered the debate. The World Bank intervention and doi:10.5565/rev/athenea.128 Open Access
OPEN the human rights dimension of the question are 6 Intervention
KNOWLEDGE discussed in depth. The article introduces the notion Human Rights
of open knowledge as a guiding criterion to design a
human-rights based scientific policy
Case study: The Abstract: This case study of the Argentina Road Raffo, V., Bliss, T., Argentina
Argentina Road Safety Project demonstrates how the application of Shotten, M., Sleet, D., & World Bank
Safety Project: World Bank road safety project guidelines focused on Blanchard, C. (2013). Case Road Safety
lessons learned for institution building can accelerate knowledge study: The Argentina road Project
the decade of transfer, scale up investment and improve the focus safety project: lessons Guidelines
Action for Road on results. The case study highlights road safety as a learned for the decade of Institution
Safety, 20112020 development priority and outlines World Bank action for road safety, 2011- building
initiatives addressing the implementation of the 2020. Global Health Initiatives
World Report on Road Traffic Injurys Promotion, 20(4 Suppl), 20- Implementation
recommendations and the subsequent launch of the 36. Recommendation
Decade of Action for Road Safety, from 20112020. doi:10.1177/175797591350 s
The case study emphasizes the vital role played by 2690 Improvements
the lead agency in ensuring sustainable road safety Development
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 31

improvements and promoting the shift to a Safe objectives

System approach, which necessitated the
strengthening of all elements of the road safety
management system. It summarizes road safety
performance and institutional initiatives in Argentina
leading up to the preparation and implementation of
the project. We describe the projects development
objectives, financing arrangements, specific
components and investment staging. Finally, we
discuss its innovative features and lessons learned,
and present a set of supplementary guidelines, both to
assist multilateral development banks and their
clients with future road safety initiatives, and to
encourage better linkages between the health and
transportation sectors supporting them.
Travelling ideas This article examines the transnational flow of social Lopreite, D. (2012). Argentina
and domestic policy ideas, in particular their importance in Travelling ideas and Transnational
policy change: The advancing gender equality policies in countries with domestic policy change: The flow of social
transnational strong conservative gender norms that have a history transnational politics of policy
politics of of neglecting reproductive rights. Focusing on the reproductive rights/health in Gender equality
reproductive case of Argentina, it illustrates how internationally Argentina. Global Social Conservative
rights/health in sanctioned ideas contributed to these important Policy, 12(2), 109-128. gender norms
Argentina policy changes helping in the adoption of a federal doi:10.1177/1468018112443 Internationally
programme of contraception; yet abortion remains 685 sanctioned ideas
illegal. New policies have been adopted, but Policy changes
important elements of the old regime have been National politics
preserved. While the study demonstrates the
importance of travelling policy ideas, it is also a
reminder of the continued importance of national
politics and policy legacies
GLOBALIZATIO This article examines the emergence of new, highly Vanden, H. E. (2003). Argentina
N IN A TIME OF politicized social movements in Latin America as a Globalization in a time of World Bank
NEOLIBERALIS response to deteriorating economic and social neoliberalism: politicized Politicized social
M: POLITICIZED conditions and the related growth of neoliberal social movements and the movements
SOCIAL economic policies advocated by International Latin American Deteriorating
MOVEMENTS Financial Institutions like the IMF and the World response. Journal of economic and
AND THE LATIN Bank and by national political elites. It argues that Developing Societies, 19(2- social conditions
AMERICAN the decline of bureaucratic authoritarianism and the 3), 308-333. Neoliberal
RESPONSE growing democratization in the region have helped to doi:10.1177/0169796x0301 Economic
move the struggle for more equitable societies and 900207 policies
the empowerment of popular sectors away from Bureaucratic
armed struggle toward new repertoires of action authoritarianism
conducted in civil society by new social and political Democratization
movements. An overview of the phenomenon, Empowerment
examines the Zapatistas in Mexico, the National Economic crisis
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador Government
(CONAIE), the breakdown of traditional parties and Politics
the rise of the Chvez movement in Venezuela, recent
political movements in Bolivia, the rise of neo-
populism in Peru, and the political and economic
crisis that delegitimized governments and politics in
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 32

Argentina and led to popular assemblies and

demonstrations that removed successive governments
from power in 2001 and 2002. Finally, a case study
of the Landless movement in Brazil (the MST) is
offered as an example of how such movements
develop and contest power.
Holding it Together This article seeks to intervene in debates about the Bedford, Kate. "Holding it Argentina
in a Crisis: Family role of crisis in Post-Washington Consensus (PWC) Together in a Crisis: Family World Bank
Strengthening and policymaking. Gender and sexuality are largely Strengthening and Post-Washington
Embedding absent from that debate. What do experiences of Embedding Neoliberalism." Consensus
Neoliberalism crisis reveal about the inter-connections between IDS Bulletin, vol. 39, Policymaking
crisis, gender, and sexuality? In concrete crisis no. 6, 2009, pp. 60-66. Family
conditions, which common sense groundworks of the strengthening
present (Nikolas Rose) get unsettled, which get loan
reentrenched, and what is the role of the development Monogamous
industry in this process? Using policy texts, heterosexual
interviews with World Bank policymakers, and couplehood
fieldwork on a family strengthening loan in Neoliberalism
Argentina, the author argues that denaturalisation of Post-crisis era
free markets in the PWC is articulated partly through
the renaturalisation of monogamous heterosexual
couplehood. With the injuries of neoliberalism
framed as injuries to loving couplehood, the World
Bank and its allies resolve to (re)generate intimate
partnership as the defining feature of the post-crisis
era, raising crucial questions about new regimes of
heteronormativity under construction in
contemporary development practice.
When Social Social health insurance (SHI) has gained popularity Lloyd-Sherlock, P. (2006). Argentina
Health Insurance in recent years as a health-care funding mechanism When social health insurance Social Health
Goes Wrong: for developing countries in Latin America and goes wrong: Lessons from Insurance
Lessons from beyond. This is reected in a number of high-prole Argentina and Latin America
Argentina and conferences sponsored by international agencies, and Mexico. Social Policy and Externally funded
Mexico a profusion of externally funded reform projects. This Administration, 40(4), 353- reform projects
article assesses the potential of SHI to provide a 368. doi:10.1111/j.1467- Effectiveness
sound model of health-care nancing, drawing on the 9515.2006.00494.x Suitability
experiences of Argentina and Mexico. It uses four
criteria to assess the performance of SHI: coverage,
equity, effectiveness and sustainability. The article
begins by outlining key principles of SHI and
comparing it to other models of health-care
nancing. It then gives a comparative overview of
four SHI programmes in Argentina and Mexico,
before analysing their performance in greater detail.
The article nishes by extracting lessons from this
comparative analysis, both for the countries studied
and for global debates on SHI.
PRIVATIZATION Academics and World Bank officials argue that, by Waitzkin, H., Jasso- Argentina
OF HEALTH reducing out-of-pocket expenditures, expanded Aguilar, R., & Iriart, C. World Bank
SERVICES IN private insurance may improve access to needed (2007). Privatization of Private insurance
LESS health services in less developed countries. In this health services in less Recommendation
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 33

DEVELOPED empirical response, the authors examine this developed countries: An Privatization of
COUNTRIES: AN recommendation through observations from their empirical response to the health services
EMPIRICAL research on privatization of health services in the proposals of the World Bank Worsening access
RESPONSE TO United States, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. and Wharton to needed services
THE PROPOSALS Privatization, either through conversion of public School. International
OF THE sector to private sector insurance or by expansion of Journal of Health
WORLD BANK private insurance through enhanced participation by Services, 37(2), 205-227.
AND WHARTON corporate entrepreneurs, generally has not succeeded doi:10.2190/a1u4-7612-
SCHOOL in improving access to health services for vulnerable 5052-6053
groups. Although the impact of privatization has
differed among the Latin American countries studied,
expansion of private insurance often has generated
additional co-payments, which have increased rather
than decreased out-of-pocket expenditures, thereby
worsening access to needed services. Privatization
usually has improved conditions for private
corporations and has led to higher administrative
costs. To address the devastating problems of access
to services worldwide, we must find ways to enhance
the delivery of public sector services and must move
beyond conventional wisdom about market based
policies such as privatization
In Latin America, it is possible to identify three basic Petras, J., & Veltmeyer, H. Argentina
modalities of social change and political power: (n.d.). Social movements and Social change
electoral politics, the construction of social the state: Political power Political power
movements, and social action in the direction of local dynamics in Latin Mass
development. But radical politics of mass America. Imperialism, mobilization
mobilisation remains the indispensable condition for Neoliberalism and Social Development
advancing the struggle for social change towards a Struggles in Popular power
new world of social justice and real development LatinAmerica, 32(1), 235- Alternative
based on popular power. An analysis of events over 260. social/non-
recent years shows that the regional scene has doi:10.1163/ej.97890041536 political approach
become punctuated with new dynamics of change. 53.i-383.77 Social
This change is based on the advance of an alternative organization
social or non-political approach associated with the Political
rise of grassroots, community forms of social development
organisation and local development. This
phenomenon constitutes a central issue in political
developments across Latin America today. The
authors have come to this conclusion on the basis of
a systematic comparative analysis of the relationship
between the state and social movements in four
countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Ecuador
The Beginning of a The few historical studies that have addressed the Claudia Kedar (2010) The Argentina
Controversial formative years of the relationship between Beginning of a Controversial World Bank
Relationship: The Argentina and the Bretton Woods Institutions-the Relationship: The IMF, the Conflictive
IMF, the World International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and Argentina, Relationship
Bank, and International Bank for Reconstruction and 194346, Canadian Journal IMF
Argentina, 194346 Development, better known as the World Bank-begin of Latin American and Diplomatic and
their narratives in the post-Peronist period. However, Caribbean Studies / Revue economic
its roots are found in the pre-Peronist and the pre- canadienne des tudes latino- sanctions
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 34

IMF era. This article focuses on a specifie crucial amricaines et carabes, Neutral country
point for the understanding of the conflictive 35:69, 201-230, DOI:
relations between the si des-the exclusion of 10.1080/08263663.2010.108
Argentina from the foundational event of the IMF, 16993
the Bretton Woods Conference of July 1944. The
article portrays Argentina's non-invitation to the
Bretton Woods Conference by the principal
responsible for its organization-Washington, DC-as a
link in the chain of diplomatic and economic
sanctions that the United States imposed on this
neutral country.
The World Banks This paper argues that the World Banks adoption of De Moerloose, S. (2015). Argentina
Sustainable the principle of sustainable development is an The World Banks World Bank
Development example of the persistence of the law and sustainable development Sustainable
Approach and the development approach. Indeed, the World Banks approach and the need for a development
Need for a Unified interpretation of the principle translates into its unified field of law and Soft law
Field of Law and projects; through soft law and loan conditionality, it development studies in Loan
Development applies to the borrower and regulates behaviors at the Argentina. Law and conditionality
Studies in country level. This potentially results in the legal Development Review, 8(2), Regulate
Argentina transplantation of a cross-culturally valid principle. 361-388. doi:10.1515/ldr- behaviors
The paper will present a case study of the sustainable 2015-0017 Cross-culturally
development principles application by the World valid
Bank in Argentina: the Riachuelo-Matanza Basin Implementing
Sustainable Development Project. Given the project
difficulties of implementing the project, the paper Unified field
makes the case that, to bridge the gaps described by
Trubek and Galanter, Argentina needs scholars
specialized in law and development as a unified field
in order to fine-tune the development approach of
international development actors to national realities
and thus create a real impact
World Bank During the 1990s, reforms concerned with good Tuozzo, M. F. (2009). World Argentina
Inuence and governance became popular with multilateral and Bank influence and World Bank
Institutional bilateral lenders. This trend was led by the World institutional reform in Economic
Reform in Bank, which claimed that in order to achieve Argentina. Development development
Argentina economic development, institutions mattered. This and change, 40(3), 467-485. Institutions
article looks at governance reforms in Argentina, doi:10.1111/j.1467- Judicial sector
specically in the judicial sector, and contends that 7660.2009.01559.x Donor-driven
World Bank involvement affected the nature, reach designs
and depth of these initiatives. The inuence of the Project reform
Bank can be traced through three dimensions that Restricted
have characterized its approach to institutional reforms
reform: donor-driven designs for project reform; Project initiatives
reliance on technical approaches; and restricted Institutional
forms of decision making in project initiatives. Such change
an approach to institutional change conditioned Conditioned
domestic reform in Argentina and contributed to domestic reform
piecemeal and inadequate initiatives. The author also Strategies
argues that the Banks approach in Argentina can be Ideological
traced to wider strategies that derive from embedded foundation
institutional practices and ideological foundations
 ARGENTINA AND THE WORLD BANK 35

within the institution that throw into question the

Banks capacities to promote such reform
Argentina: Social Argentinas judiciary may review policies sponsored Etchichury, Horacio Javier. Argentina
rights, thorny by international financial institutions (IFIs) in light (2006). "Argentina: Social Judiciary
country: Judicial of constitutional social rights. Judges have the power rights, thorny country: Policies
review of economic to strike down any act of government that affects Judicial review of economic International
policies sponsored constitutional rights. Since policies advanced by the policies sponsored by the Financial
by the IFIs IFIs may have an impact on social rights, these IFIs." American University Institutions
policies could be subject to judicial review. In this International Law Review Constitutional
article, I will first describe the status of social rights 22, no.1 pp. 101-125 rights
in Argentinas constitution. I will then turn to the Social tights
possible contradictions between these rights and IFI- Judicial review
sponsored policies. Finally, I will describe what the Constitution
judiciary is entitled to do about these contradictions Contridictions
under Argentinas constitutional design
Interest One revealing test for gauging the extent to which Brachet-Mrquez, V., Argentina
mobilization in pluralist democracy has advanced in the recently Alonso, G. V., & Uribe Democracy
public health and (re)democratized countries of Latin America is to Gmez, M. (2012). Interest Insurance reform
social insurance: determine the extent to which interest groups have mobilization in public health Political
Argentina, come to participate in policy making in formal, open, and social insurance: Democratic
Colombia, and extensive, and accepted ways as they mostly do in Argentina, Colombia, and Immaturity of
Mexico in advanced liberal democracies. In other words, is this Mexico in comparative process
comparative a new era or more of the same? To provide insights perspective. Journal of
perspective into this question, using six hypotheses, this article Public Affairs, 14(3-4), 346-
compares social insurance reform in Argentina and 358. doi:10.1002/pa.1407
Mexico, and public health reform in Colombia.
It appears that the political processes through which
the reforms were adopted were fairly democratic,
although aspects of the old regimes in all three
countries, particularly corporatist relationships, were
indispensable backups. The weaknesses that were
apparent, however, stem less from the old ways of
doing political business and more from the
immaturity of the democratic process. Plus, pressures
were felt by the executive branches and their allies to
show to the international community that their
country was a safe place in which to invest.