Liberalism, a problematic political tradition in Controversia

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the interpretations about liberalism presented in Controversia (1979-1981), a review created in México by some exiled Argentinean intellectuals during the latest Argentinian military dictatorship. As we will try to argue, this object implies two different analysis’ levels: on the one hand, the meanings associated to the “liberal idea”, which appear in Controversia as a strong rejection to Argentinean liberal tradition. Rejection that collected the arguments of a cultural and political anti-liberalism built along the XX century. On the other hand, the analysis of the theoretical and political assumptions that hold these interventions. In these assumptions is where we understand takes place a relevant conceptual displacement: the distinction “formal democracy/ substantive democracy” becomes a subsidiary moment from a new decisive political distinction between democracy and authoritarianism. Is particularly in this second level of the analysis where we consider necessary to understand the impact of the liberal matter in Controversia.