Abstract

FAIR, Hernán. The fading out of national popular discourse in Argentina (1988 - 1993). Entramado [online]. 2013, vol.9, n.2, pp.118-137. ISSN 1900-3803.

This article analyzes the main characteristics and changes, continuums, and ideological reformulations of the discourse of key sociopolitical actors in Argentina between the immediately preceding period and the sedimentation stage of Menemist hegemony in order to incorporate some factors that account for the efficiency of Neoliberal hegemony in Argentina. To this end, it provides a detailed examination of speeches in public and in the media based on a comparative analysis of the period from 1988 to 1993. The theoretical methodological framework is based on Ernesto Laclau's theories of discourse. The sources focus on graphic media, analyzing a body of speeches of broad political issues transcribed in the most important newspapers with national circulation (i.e. Clarín, La Nación, and Página 12). The methodological strategy entails an analysis of the structure of equivalent links and political borders, rebuilding a series of speeches grouped together on the basis of observable regularities. A review was conducted of the aggregate of the speeches, including an analysis on an individualized and a collective basis. The hypothesis that refers to the fading out of the national popular discourse was confirmed; only remnants of this kind of discourse were left during the sedimentation period of Menem's hegemonic regime. In this regard, Menemism accomplished considerable success in changing existing identities and traditions and building a new common sense around Neoliberalism.

Keywords : Menemism; Neoliberal hegemony; comparative analysis of discourse; interdiscursiveness; Argentina.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )