Introduction

Abstract

In returning to democratic rule in December 1983, Argentina became part of the world-wide trend initiated in the 1970s, which Samuel Huntington labelled ‘the third wave of democratisation in the history of the modern world’.¹ Argentina mounted the wave with the election of President Raúl Alfonsín, after seven years of severe military dictatorship and a longer term of political instability, which extended throughout the century. After this, ten national elections were held in the country at regular intervals, as well as a great number of others at the provincial and local levels. In 1999, a fourth presidential period was initiated with the election of President Fernando de la Rúa, the candidate of the opposition Alliance who put an end to the Peronist Carlos Menem’s ten years in government. During these almost twenty years of democratic rule, regular, free and fair electoral processes took place and the other core features of democracy were also well respected: extensive protection for civil and political rights, freedom of the press and civilian control over the military.²