Republic and Democracy in Argentine liberal-conservatism. The expansion of 1916, the moment of closure in 1976, and their contemporary resonances

Abstract

The rise of far-right leaders a nd p arties in Western democracies has prompted renewed reflections on their ideologies, programs, and political strategies. Among these debates, the study of new meanings attributed to democracy and the Republic reveals transformations in the relationship between political traditions. This article analyzes the articulation between liberalism, conservatism, and republicanism in Argentine history. First, it addresses theoretical debates on the definition of the right and the development of liberalism, particularly its interpretation of changes in the democratic system and the participation of the masses in politics. Drawing on a historical-relational approach, it examines two key moments: the democratic expansion of 1916 and the closure of the political system during the last military dictatorship in 1976. Both milestones express a pendular dynamic and a refoundational vocation of liberal-conservatism, which has been recently reinterpreted. Finally, the article analyzes the government of Javier Milei as an update of this tradition, highlighting the hegemony of an elitist and anti-democratic perspective together with the construction of new conceptual and political antagonisms. This work seeks to contribute to the study of contemporary right-wing movements, particularly regarding their relationship with democratic decline and the erosion of republican institutions.