ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the ways in which the poverty and inequality of the interior affect the political culture there and how this shapes the political systems of the traditional parts of the interior in a way that poses obstacles to the region's economic development. It explores how the backward political culture of the interior presents obstacles to the economic development of the country as a whole. Politicians from the interior occupy many prominent and powerful posts in the national government. The interior dominates or at least exercises veto power in important political fora such as the Congress. The interior plays prominent or even crucial roles in national political coalitions or parties. If the interior's control of the executive has been broken for long spells, its control over the national Congress has been almost continuous. The chapter argues that democracy in Argentina can better support economic growth than can authoritarian rule.