Report

"NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER RETURNING to democracy," wrote The Wall Street Journal in 1985, "Argentina is struggling with an old problem- the lack of a strong and constructive political opposition." Yet September's mid-term elections show how far the country has come in two years.

Article

Roy Pingel
Radical Civic Union (UCR): Founded at the end of the 19th century by Leandro Alem and Hip6lito Yrigoyen (president from 1916-1922 and 1928-1930), the move- ment attracted recent European immigrants, particularly professionals, small traders and merchants. Pledged to political reforms such as universal male suffrage.
Sara Hautzinger
To don an eye-catching dictator's costume, complete with massive papier mache mask, on downtown Santiago's most trafficked pedestrian mall is no small act of bravery. But then to spread a lifesize human dummy on the ground and pantomime acts of violent torture, all the while casually conversing with someone dressed in the flashy garb of a dic- tator's wife, is to gamble with per- sonal safety.
Clara Ponce de León
"Colombia is currently experienc- ing one of the worst crises of its his- tory. The lack of security and the proven inefficacy of the judicial sys- tem are reaching terrifying new heights," said former president Car- los Lleras Restrepo recently.
Roy Pingel
LAST JULY, ON THE 13TH ANNIVER- sary of Gen. Juan Domingo Peron's death, it was discovered that his grave had been opened, his hands se- vered and stolen.
Nunca Mas: The Report of the Argentine National Commission on the Disappeared with an introduction by Ronald Dworkin. Farrar Straus Giroux, 1986, 463 pp.
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BY 1980, THE ARGENTINE MILITARY junta considered its "dirty war" a success, and was ready to export its expertise to new trouble spots. The ex- ternal security component of their National Security Doc- trine could finally be implemented.
MLD
Grassroots Diplomacy IN 1982, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLO- cated funds to municipalities around the country for the development of emergency evacuation plans in case of nu- clear attack. Turning government thinking on its head, city council members in Cambridge, MA worked with local peace activists in writing a pamphlet on the dangers of nuclear war.
Emilio Mignone
FOR 68 YEARS IN THE LATE NINETEENTH and early twentieth centuries-while much of Latin America was immersed in a seemingly endless series of civil conflicts and coups-Argentina enjoyed constitutional government and orderly transfers of power. By 1862 all provinces had ratified the 1853 fed- eral constitution, which-with minor changes-is still in effect.
Elizabeth Jelin
FOLLOWING EIGHT YEARS OF BLOODY military dictatorship, Argentina's 1983 electoral process reached quickly and deeply into people's lives. In a few short months after the Malvinas defeat-when democratic rule appeared within reach-political par- ties came out of hiding and attracted new members in unprecedented numbers.
Martha Lyn Doggett
"We are at a very important juncture in U.S.