In the Land of Silver ― 200 Years of Argentine Political-economic Development

In this timely, insightful, and concise introduction to the history and development of Argentina, Dr. Walter Molano takes a pragmatic look at the major variables that shape the country's political and economic policies. Dr. Molano particularly emphasizes the role that geography played in the formation of the country's economic institutions and political traditions. In the Land of Silver transcends two hundred years of economic and political development of one of the most complex countries in Latin America and the developing world—a country that only a century ago was as prosperous as the United States and many European countries, but is now on the bottom rung of the emerging world. Dr. Molano brings to light Argentina’s position as a country that is intriguing, yet full of contradictions. A century ago, Argentina was a preeminent destination for waves of immigrants looking for a new home and chances for a better life. It remained neutral during the two world wars, selling agricultural products, at inflated prices, to the warring sides. However, the second half of the twentieth century saw the country slip into poverty, transitioning from a veritable land of opportunity to a virtual graveyard of bad economic policies. The Argentine case has been the subject of derision, broad simplifications, and stereotypes. However, its history was a complex process that underscored the importance of geography and the role that external forces had in shaping its formation. Its unique location at the extreme limits of a vast empire distant from the centers of civilization imbued it with a yearning to react to what was happening abroad. By analyzing the geographical and external factors integral to the development of the country's political and economic institutions, readers will gain a better understanding of the forces that shape the country's policy decisions.