Argentina a First World Nation

How do we keep the growth and stability that was occurring in the 1880's going so that by modern day Argentina is seen as one of the developed nations? Is earlier election reforms the way to go? Increased immigration?

Let's see what your thoughts are!
 
I... I think Argentina is a first world nation. It's got the tango, it's got the Welsh, it's got internet access... we've got board members from Argentina here, fer cryin' out loud!

You can tell if a nation's developed or not when it starts a war against the UK.
 
I... I think Argentina is a first world nation. It's got the tango, it's got the Welsh, it's got internet access... we've got board members from Argentina here, fer cryin' out loud!

You can tell if a nation's developed or not when it starts a war against the UK.

They're a middle income nation, they still have a lot of issues outside of the big cities.

I mean on the same level as say, Canada or the US. What does it take to achieve that?
 
They're a middle income nation, they still have a lot of issues outside of the big cities.

I mean on the same level as say, Canada or the US. What does it take to achieve that?
I daresay that could be an easy enough challenge post-1900, although bugger if I know what. Some armwaving involving Peron, maybe?
 
Argentina was doing quite well in the first decades of the 20th century. I believe at one point it was equal to the US in GDP per capita and growth rate.

After WWII it was the 5th largest economy and was projected to reach Western European levels of living standards. The government spent heavily on industrialization and attracted much foreign investment and talent.

There were a number of flamboyant projects including the manufacture of advanced fighter jets designed by German engineers, including the core design team of Focke-Wulf. Other Germans were doing fusion reactor research in Argentina. The future was looking bright.

But all was not well. Once European economy recovered they reduced imports from Argentina and the local industry could not compete against a resurgent Europe. Argentina had under invested in energy and agriculture and had some bad grain tax policies. Natural disasters compounded the problem. This combined with a social political system full of internal contradictions led to an economic meltdown followed by political instability. Foreign talent and investment fled and it was never the same again.

Basically they probably would have been better off focusing on mechanized farming and energy infrastructure instead of trying to skip ahead. But the biggest problem has got to be the unstable political environment.

To my mind Argentina was also an ideal place to take in Jewish refugees following the Evian Conference. They had plenty of land and only a moderate population. That might have given them a head start in the early 1940s.
 
Argentina might need a Theodore Roosevelt type figure who breaks the power of the robber barons but isn't a socialist thus averting the conservertive-liberal violence that Argentina suffered OTL.
 
In order for Argentina to retain its First World nation status in 20th century, the POD would be:

Without 1930 coup that overthows Hipólito Yrigoyen, a good President of Argentina.

Roberto Ortiz became President of Argentina from 1934 to 1940 and again 1946 to 1952. (in POD, Roberto Ortiz is healthy and he didn't suffer a diabetis that prevents the 1943 coup)

Without 1943 coup means that Peron would not become a President of Argentina, therefore Argentina is not polarized between the Peronist and Radicals.

Argentina is declaring a war against the Axis powers earlier, therefore Argentina, after the war would be the ally of the United States and a beneficially of Marshall Plan.
 
^ That would help. Immensely.

I was also thinking that post-war, Argentina (which is not damaged by the war) contributes to the Marshal Plan under US contracts. This gives technology and money to the Argentinians. And yes, political instability, particularly post-WWII, caused much of the economic problems.

But with Peron out of the picture - and as such, likely his supporters too - that instability dies away largely. A 1st world, democratic Argentina would be a model country to base much of Latin America off of - and all that capital that Argentine citizens hold in foreign accounts ($125 Billion+) would stay in Argentina, not to mention probably some of that from other Latin American nations.
 
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