Essay Example on Juan Peron's Rule in Argentina: Political Chaos and Cultish Personalization

Argentina, during the rule of Juan Peron, faced many difficulties mostly riddled by corruption and political chaos. The tenure of Peron is credited to the influential nature of his wife, Evita. They both used the influence of cultish personalization in drawing people towards them and thus gaining control over them in the process. Further, they added the notion of a personality cult that changed the way society viewed religion, specifically in drawing admiration to them. Evita, his wife, even before he became influenced by his restoration when he was sacked as labor secretary. Evita led a movement to restore his position, further showing the vast extent of her influence on the public. The lower class of Argentina had many difficulties, mainly through the political upheavals that formed the history of the time in Juan Peron's tenure and even through his exile. Through the political chaos, facing Argentina, Peron was able to handle them together with the assistance of his wife, Evita Peron (Muno 9). Her influence much touched the lives of a section of the middle and lower class and, in the process, improved their lives. Evita was the second wife of Peron. Her career was in singing and acting. When she became the wife of the president in 1945, she helps bring in places many causes as an unofficial leader (Cull, Culbert, and Welch 294). Evita and Juan further gained influence through creating a personality cult involving them both. Her social programs targeted the destitute in the society together with providing money to the needy.

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Moreover, she was instrumental in promoting women's empowerment in society. Her efforts considerably reached the middle and lower classes in the argentine culture. Being married to the president elevated her to the level that she could now carry out nationalistic actions towards advancing the needy in the society through her numerous programs. Maria Evita Peron, until this day, is known as one of Argentina's most influential women. Once a member of the lower class understood the obstacles, the lower class had to face. Her position as the first lady allowed her to bring change to the lives of the unprivileged successfully.

Evita presents one of the most influential women in Argentina. In different capacities, she championed the rights of the less privileged, particularly the women. Eva Peron can only be compared to Eleanor Roosevelt among first ladies who made an impact in their society (Kahlenbeck 4). Evita had political goals while being determined and having a strong character at the same time. She came from extreme poverty and rose through various positions until she had her radio. The strong character further guided their actions. Her strong character arises from the fact that even though she was in a patriarchal society as a woman, she was able to gain influence over most of the community as a leader in her own right. From dire poverty to significant power in society through various stages in her life, she was able to both admiration and hate from different sections of society. She did not consider the many misgivings that a part of people had about her regarding her previous acting career but forged on to influence societal change. Even though she faced opposition from a section of the middle and ruling class she still waxed strong. She went against political ambitions to further care for her fellow citizens. Her strong character and her influence through the various programs like constructions of schools also showed her love for her nation even though there were forces against her in the political arena. She did not behave like a politician but embraced humanity in her wake and, in the process, spoke for different sections of the society, particularly the less privileged. Evita, therefore, becomes a unique first lady who took an active role in politics and not just a back seat.

In the 1940s, women did not have much say in politics. Even though Park (2019) has a contrary opinion regarding the former first lady as being ceremonial instead of bringing change, he does not look at her achievement towards fighting for women rights and in the process changing the politics of the time and even to the present where Cristina Fernandez is a woman, is the current president in Argentina. The first lady during Juan Peron's tenure made history through her influence. Such influence stems from her strong character. Evita, in her women's suffrage efforts, came up with the first female party. In her quest for women suffrage, she sought to bring about equality in society. In the influence, particularly having a high position of being the president's wife, was able to change opinions in the nation regarding women and their place in politics.

The party was called Women Peronist. She influenced the outcome of the election of her husband through the women's Peronist party (Finchelstein 79). The party she formed constituted women only. She changed women's positions even posthumously through the creation of the party. Female voters placed various women in congress. She, therefore, came up with the idea that boosted the role of women in politics to a higher level. Women had new ambitions and even the urge to engage in politics, among other senior positions in society. Many people did not expect Evita, a woman, to have such influence in politics. Her politics were different since they were meant to help other people, in this case, women. She championed for more political positions for the less privileged in the society.

Furthermore, she stood for the rights of the underprivileged in society. Even though the first lady was involved in personally making herself and president a cult to the people, she still influenced people through caring for them. In her position as the first lady, she used her status to influence society through coming with various programs to support the lower and middle classes. Her influence started from her acting career when she wanted to become famous and, in the process, became popular among her people. The various sections of the society considered acting as immoral, especially when she entered the political sphere. Her popularity care for the need further spread her influence in political matters. The working class and particularly women had a more significant voice in terms of voting (Wang 125). She thus appealed to the needy through supporting them and ensuring that the middle class had better terms regarding their working conditions. In helping society, she sought to change the social fabric of the country. Her influence in creating the women's party further assisted in guiding the election in favor of her husband, who supported her goals, particularly in improving the living standards in the society. She took her quest for women suffrage in Spain (Favor 64). As a leader, she was able to declare interest for the position of vice president, but political opposition discouraged her. Selfishness was not part of her quest for different positions politically, as is the case. Her focus in improving the society won many hearts among the less privileged. In less than two terms as being the first lady, she had significantly changed various issues regarding women empowerment together with the betterment of the less privileged in the society.

Conclusion

Even though people she drew hatred from a section of the society, many people still her as begin a benevolent leader who changed the way of politics in the country. Her benevolence to the lower classes helped her draw great appeal from then which she further used in her political ambitions. Peron brought about the various clashes in the political arena. She did not follow conventional ways of politicking and thus clashed with most sections in light of the mechanisms that had ensured poor leadership in the country. Her influence thus stems from her different roles before she became the first lady, particularly form acting and being a successful radio personality. The entrenchment of her husband as ideology, together with her support to her husband, is because it further increased her influence among the people in Argentina. The Peronist theology and doctrine also drew the mode of life the Argentines had to follow. Moreover, her background stemming from extreme poverty further molded her, and she focused on bettering society as a result. Even though the husband focused on creating distinctions among the women and men, she mostly vouched for women and their place in society.

Works Cited

Cull, Nicholas J, David H. Culbert, and David Welch. Propaganda and Mass Persuasion: A Historical Encyclopedia, 1500 to the Present. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2003. Print.

Favor, Lesli J. Eva Peron. New York : Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2011. Print.

Finchelstein, Federico. Ideological Origins of the Dirty War - Fascism, Populism, and Dictatorship. , 2017. Print.

Kahlenbeck, Josie. "The More Influential, the More Controversial: How Eleanor Roosevelt and Eva Peron Broke Gender Norms and Redefined the Role of First Lady." (2018). Print.

Muno, Wolfgang. "Populism in Argentina." Populism Around the World. Springer, Cham, 2019. 9-26. Print.

Park, Donghyun. "Evita Peron, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, And Latin American Banana Republics." World Scientific Book Chapters (2019): 208-215. Print.

Wang, N. (2018). "First Lady Diplomacy" and the construction of national image. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 14(2), 125-136.