The Development of Bilateral Relationship between Argentina and the United States during Menem's Government (1989-1999)

• Main Authors: Wang, Yu-Ping, 王羽平
• Other Authors: Ho, Kuo-Shih
• Format: Others
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/61213782278014683371

碩士 === 靜宜大學 === 西班牙語文學系 === 102 === For an extended period of time, Argentina was ruled under dictatorships, and it wasn’t until the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín in 1983 that the country began a new stage of democratic transformation. However, the hyperinflation of 1989 and the chaos resulting from the domestic political crisis ousted him from power and brought in Carlos Saúl Menem with 47.49% of the votes in the presidential election. Upon taking office, Menem advocated neoliberal policies and implemented a series of reforms aiming to combat the hyperinflation crisis. Moreover, he not only put in force effective social measures to deal with problems of unemployment and poverty, but also carried out a constitutional amendment in 1994 to pave way for his second term in office. In the meantime, due to severe economic situations, foreign relationships, especially with the United Stated, underwent evident changes. The Menem administration abandoned the third position of Peronism and carried into effect a series of policies showing his almost unconditional support for the United States. On the one hand, Argentina acquired large amounts of US investments through close cooperation with the northern neighbor. On the other hand, Argentina actively participated in international security issues and putting emphasis on joint campaigns with the United States against terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption. These practices dramatically lowered the inflation rate while at the same time boosted GDP. However, that didn’t really improve the economic situation, instead made the crisis even worse. The present study investigates bilateral relations between Argentina and the United States during the administration of Menem (1989-1999), and of whether national and international situations improved due to closer ties with the United States, and the effects his policies had on Argentina. The thesis is divided into three chapters, discussing political, economic, social and diplomatic developments during Menem’s presidency. The conclusion in the end of the study is based on historical development, policies, economic data and literature review relevant to the issues in question.