National Reorganization Process

Argentine Republic República Argentina
1976–1983
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Himno Nacional Argentino
Map of Argentina showing undisputed territory in dark green, and territorial claims in light green.
Capital	Buenos Aires
Common languages	Spanish
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Government	Federal presidential republic under a totalitarian military dictatorship
President of Argentina
• 1976–81	Jorge Rafael Videla
• 1981	Roberto Eduardo Viola
• 1981	Horacio Tomás Liendo (acting)
• 1981	Carlos Lacoste (acting)
• 1981–82	Leopoldo Galtieri
• 1982	Alfredo Oscar Saint-Jean (acting)
• 1982–83	Reynaldo Bignone
Historical era	Cold War
• 1976 coup d'état	24 March 1976
• Falklands War	2 April – 14 June 1982
• 1983 general election	30 October
• Junta disestablished	10 December 1983
Population
• 1975	25,865,776
• 1980	27,949,480
HDI (1980)	0.665 medium
Currency	Argentine peso (1975–90)
ISO 3166 code	AR
Preceded by Succeeded by Argentine Republic Argentine Republic

The National Reorganization Process (Spanish: Proceso de Reorganización Nacional) was the name used by the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. This period was marked by severe human rights abuses, economic problems, and social unrest.

Background

In the 1970s, Argentina was facing many challenges. There was political instability, economic crisis, and violence between different groups, including left-wing guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary forces. On March 24, 1976, the military took control of the government in a coup d'état. They called their rule the "National Reorganization Process" and claimed they wanted to restore order and stability.

The military government

The military government was led by a series of generals, including Jorge Rafael Videla, Roberto Eduardo Viola, and Leopoldo Galtieri. They dissolved the Argentine Congress, banned political parties, and took control of the media. The military claimed they were fighting against "subversion" and "communism," but they also targeted anyone who opposed them, including students, workers, and activists.

The Dirty War

One of the darkest parts of this period was the Dirty War (Spanish: Guerra Sucia). The military government kidnapped, tortured, and killed thousands of people who they saw as threats. These victims are known as the "desaparecidos" (the disappeared) because many were never seen again. It is estimated that between 10,000 and 30,000 people were killed or disappeared during this time.

The military also targeted pregnant women, taking their babies and giving them to families connected to the regime. Groups like the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have worked for decades to find these children and bring justice to the victims.

Economic problems

The military government also made big changes to the economy. They followed neoliberal policies, which included cutting government spending, reducing workers' rights, and opening the economy to foreign businesses. At first, the economy seemed to improve, but by the early 1980s, Argentina faced a severe economic crisis. Inflation soared, and many people lost their jobs.

The Falklands War

In 1982, the military government tried to distract people from the country’s problems by starting a war with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas). The Falklands War lasted about two months and ended in a defeat for Argentina. This loss further weakened the military government and increased public anger.

End of the dictatorship

By 1983, the military government had lost all support. The economy was in ruins, and people were demanding change. The military agreed to hold democratic elections, and in December 1983, Raúl Alfonsín was elected president. This marked the end of the National Reorganization Process and the return of democracy to Argentina.

Aftermath

After the dictatorship ended, efforts were made to bring those responsible for human rights abuses to justice. Trials were held, and some military leaders, including Videla, were sentenced to prison. However, many people felt that not enough was done to address the crimes of the dictatorship.

The National Reorganization Process left a deep scar on Argentina. It is remembered as a time of fear, violence, and suffering, but also as a time when many people fought for justice and human rights.