“¡Not with the gauchos!” Traditionalists against academics. Argentine history in contrasting perspectives (1943-1998)

Abstract

Towards the middle of the 20^th century, the gaucho´s figure had been established as a symbol for Argentina. Several causes enabled the rise of the gaucho and established him as a fundamental part of the national identity. The creole circles and traditionalist centers were a refuge for that culture and proliferated in many cities of the country. These groups produced stories about national history and disseminated a vision of the past that inevitably found the gauchos at the center of the most revisited episodes. This article explores the link between traditionalist groups and academic history. The “gauchescos” carried out different crusades against “academicism” and publicly discussed Argentine history. The traditionalists, concerned about the circulation of historical studies that could deny their narratives about the gaucho past, refuted them and attempted to discredit distinguished historians. I analyze the arguments of that opposition through the publications of Emilio Coni and Enrique de Gandía, the archives of traditionalist groups, the records of the Argentine Gaucho Confederation, the project to establish the National Gaucho Day and the interventions of commodore Juan José Güiraldes in mass media.