As many people as necessary must die in Argentina so that the country will again be secure –General Rafael Videla, 1975 (quoted in Feitlowitz, 6).

The “Dirty War” did not occur in a vacuum, it drew from a reservoir of beliefs and rhetoric that have filtered down a variety of ultraconservative movements, tendencies and regimes that have characterized Argentina’s history—Feitlowitz (57)

Question: What factors gave rise to the military take over in 1976? (CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEM—FYI THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND YOUR THESIS) How did the junta attempt to erase the legacy of Peron? What was the legacy of the Dirty War? 

Questions to consider in your discussion: 

How did the junta deal with Argentina’s “radical” legacy and Peron’s influence on Argentinian politics?  How did they attempt to erase these influences on Argentinian political culture? What were their tactics? What role did the “lexicon” of terror play in this process? How did the military justify state-sponsored terror? Who was the enemy in the “Dirty War”?

(Discuss this in your conclusion)

According to Feitlowitz, how have the post-junta administrations and the Argentinian people dealt with the legacy of the Dirty War? Has this impeded their efforts to reconcile the past? Do you think there is a likelihood that the military could return to power in Argentina? Why or Why not? Find a current event to support your claim