About the Product

This unique online resource presents an extensive grass roots view of Argentina and the recent social and political changes that have taken place there. This Web-based electronic tool offers fast access to a vast amount of material on Argentine society and politics from 1997 through 2003.

Easy to use and well-designed, this source includes multiple search capabilities that enable users to find information quickly. Public Life in Contemporary Argentina is the only resource of its kind for any Latin American country.

Material from formal organizations, participants in social movements and news sources presents perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom and official interpretation released by Argentina's traditional power brokers. Users will be able to access the voices of citizens who are rarely heard. Neighborhood-level coverage — which includes major sections of the Federal Capital — provides valuable insight on contemporary Argentina and the transformation of Argentine society. The sources of information go far beyond standard press coverage and government declarations to emphasize the words of participants in movements that are changing Argentina.

This digital reference center offers the most current information on the complex social and political movements in the country. Groups that are documented include civic associations focused on social protest, neighborhood work, confrontations with governing authorities and staged events; bartering networks created to enhance counter-trade of goods and services among the unemployed and underemployed; political parties; and more.

The bulk of this information is from primary sources and 390 different social/political movements are included. Public Life in Contemporary Argentina originates from 80 different types of sources, including provincial, regional and national newspaper reports; data from research think-tanks; email and discussion groups; interviews with leaders and member of grassroots organizations; and others.

Researchers also will discover information from 14 Argentine newspapers. Eleven are provincial, ranging geographically from the far south — Tierra del Fuego — to the far north in Jujuy. In total, more than 3,600 entries are included.

The tool is easily navigable and includes standard search/print/help features. Users can search by:

• Author (personal or corporate)
• Keyword
• Type of movement (e.g., political party, neighborhood assembly, women's organizations)
• Geographic area
• Date of publication
• Source (i.e., name of publication in which document or article appeared)
• Type of document

Public Life in Contemporary Argentina is an excellent resource for Latin American studies, comparative politics, sociology, gender studies, the uses of media in political organizing, political and social groups, social anthropology and history.

It also will be extremely useful to those interested in how neighborhoods, political parties, social movements and protest groups organize and operate.