Ernesto Palacio (writer)

Ernesto Palacio (Born 4 January 1900 in San Martin - Died 3 January 1979 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine historian and part of a generation of right-wing nationalist intellectuals active from the 1920s.

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Early years

Palacio, who was educated at the University of Buenos Aires, was a founder of the avant-garde magazine Martin Fierro and began his political life as an anarchist. However he was attracted to nationalism because the movement promised regeneration of Argentine society and at the same time he became a fervent follower of the Roman Catholic Church.[1] The main influence in his conversion was Ramiro de Maeztu, of whose writings Palacio became a follower.[2]

Between 1930 and 1931 Palacio held the position of Minister of the Interior and Public Education in his home province of San Juan.[3]

Nationalist activity

He wrote regularly for La Nueva Republica (LNR), the right-wing journal established in 1927 that formed the basis for nationalist revival in Argentina's elite.[4] Sharing editing duties with the likes of Juan Carulla, Rodolfo Irazusta and his brother Julio, Roberto de Laferrere and Cesar Pico, the journal developed an Integralist platform based on the ideas of Leopoldo Lugones.[5] He also edited the weekly journal Nuevo Orden which first appeared in July 1940 and presented hard-line Catholic opinions.[6] As a writer for this journal, as well as in his capacity as founder and leader of the minor Partido Liberator became a leading voice for anti-British sentiment.[3]

Palacio was one of the members of his generation who became an enthusiast for Peronism and in 1946 he was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies as a coalition candidate.[7] Remaining a deputy until 1952, he claimed t have joined the movement because of the authoritarianism demonstrated by Juan Perón.[3]

Writing

As a historian Palacio's best known work was his two volume Historia de la Argentina 1515-1976, the final edition of which appeared in 1979. He was also for a time the director of the literary magazine Sur.[8] As an academic he was chair of ancient and Argentine history at the Escuela Comercial de Mujeres from 1931 to 1938 and was appointed as Professor of Geography at Justo José de Urquiza College in 1942.[3]

References

  1. ^ Roger Griffin & Matthew Feldman, Fascism: The 'Fascist Epoch, 2004, p. 353
  2. ^ Philip Rees, Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890, 1990, p. 286
  3. ^ a b c d Rees, Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right, p. 287
  4. ^ Joseluis Romero, A History of Argentine Political Thought, p. 228
  5. ^ Griffin & Feldman, Fascism, p. 336
  6. ^ Graciela Ben-Dror, The Catholic Church and the Jews: Argentina, 1933-1945, 2009, p. 174
  7. ^ Alberto Ciria, Parties and Power in Modern Argentina (1930-1946), 1974, p. 151
  8. ^ René de Costa, Humor in Borges, 2000, p. 113