Argentina is the most British country in Latin America. Why?

[u/MontroseRoyal]

I would like to expand upon the title. I believe that Argentina is not only the most ‘British’ country in Latin America, but the most ‘British’ country that was never formally colonized by the British themselves. I firmly believe this and will elaborate.

Let’s start with town names. In the Buenos Aires metro area alone; English & Irish town and neighborhood names are commonplace. Such as Hurlingham, Canning, Billinghurst, Wilde, Temperley, Ranelagh, Hudson, Claypole, Coghlan, Banfield, and even Victoria (yes, purposefully named after the Queen).

One of the two biggest football clubs in the capital has an English name, River Plate. And the sport was brought by some English immigrants. Curiously, Rugby and Polo are also very popular Argentina, unlike surrounding countries. For a long time, the only Harrods outside the UK operated in Buenos Aires too. Many Argentines are of partial English descent. When the English community was stronger, they built a prominent brick monument called “Tower of the English”. After the Falklands, it was renamed to “Tower of the Malvinas” by the government out of spite.

In Patagonia, in the Chubut province particularly, there is obviously the Welsh community with town names like Trelew, Eawson, and Puerto Madryn. Patagonian Welsh is a unique variety of the language that developed more or less independently for a few years with no further influence from English. Although the community and speakers now number little, Welsh traditions are a major tourist factor for Chubut.

There is a notable diaspora community of Scottish and their descendants as well. I remember once randomly walking into a large Scottish festival near Plaza de Mayo where there were many artisan vendors selling celtic merchandise with a couple of traditional Scottish dancers on a stage.

Chile has some British/Irish influence (who can forget Bernardo O’Higgins?), but seemingly not nearly to the same extent. The English community was rather small, so it doesn’t make much sense to me how they can have such a large impact. I guess my question is why Argentina? Of all places

[u/BroSchrednei]

Argentina was also extremely unequal at the time. That wealth was completely concentrated with few people, while the vast majority was very poor.

[u/simulation_goer → u/BroSchrednei]

Naw, that's what lefties/peronist say to justify the robbery perpetrated by the socialist administrations that sunk the boat.

I come from euro immigrant families. A couple of branches arrived with nothing and turned comfy middle class in a couple of decades.

[u/lunartree → u/simulation_goer]

Argentina flip flopped between the authoritarian left and the authoritarian right for most of 100 years. If you think the issue is on the economic axis you're missing the point.

[u/UsualLazy423 → u/lunartree]

That’s pretty much what all of South America does politically. They flip flop between hard right and hard left with no real center. I fear that’s exactly what’s happening to US right now. 

[u/lunartree → u/UsualLazy423]

There is no "hard left" party in America. There's a far right party and a centrist party, and both people on the left and right use the word "liberal" as an insult toward them. Trying to conflate the American Democratic party with a South American socialist party just makes you sound historically illiterate.

Again, authoritarianism is a thing, and this flip flopping happens because people are literally blind to what it is. When you don't have a healthy democracy where laws are enacted though the will of the people what you get are waves of populism that install charismatic leaders that force unpopular laws onto the masses. Then because their rule is unpopular they have to use a lot of force to hold that power until the next wave of populism topples them.

[u/JurtisCones → u/lunartree]

Even calling the Democrats centrist is hilarious. The Dems are extremely right wing based on the traditional horseshoe / grid. Obviously not quite as right auth as Trump but not far away, under Biden.

[u/lunartree → u/JurtisCones]

Also a dumb take. American politics really are a product of its people huh...

[u/JurtisCones → u/lunartree]

I’m not American so your cheap shot was about as accurate as your politics takes

[u/FlygonSA → u/simulation_goer]

Have you ever read Bialet Masse's report? Back in 1904 he traveled the whole country to report back to Roca the conditions of the working class of that era, it literally mentions how everybody worked and lived in poor conditions with low pay.
He wasn't a crazy leftist either or that wanted to defend the immigrant working class at all cost making shit up, he was a businessman and a liberal much of the liking of Roca, even in his report he berates the forestry laborers in Chaco because "They spent all their money on gambling and hookers".

[u/axdng → u/simulation_goer]

You’re completely missing the point lmaooo

[u/simulation_goer → u/axdng]

Feel free to enlighten me about my country's history, I can't wait to read what you have to share.

[u/comalriver → u/simulation_goer]

The whole country got richer. The average standard of living was higher than almost all of Europe.

But some people got richer faster. And some people had a higher standard of living than the rest.

So they burned it all down.

[u/axdng → u/simulation_goer]

You got a 3rd world education lmao. Trying to lecture me.

[u/Eranaut → u/axdng]

There's that on-brand Reddit Elitism. Love to see it.

[u/simulation_goer → u/axdng]

Perhaps. Or maybe I got a first-world ed in a third world country.

That's it, this is where I stop feeding the troll.

Chau

PS, still no word about 20th-century Argentine history. I'd love to see some of that good ole 1st world education right here

[u/usedtyre → u/BroSchrednei]

Leftist and socialist policies just made everyone equally poor. Great achievement.