Peronism as a Big Tent: The Political Inclusion of Arab Immigrants in Argentina

Argentina's populist movement, led by Juan Perón, welcomed people from diverse cultural backgrounds, rejecting racism and xenophobia. Raanan Rein and Ariel Noyjovich's book "Peronism as a Big Tent" explores how Perón's administration attempted to garner support from Middle Eastern Argentines, culminating in the inauguration of the King Fahd Islamic Cultural Center in 2000. This inclusive spirit continues to impact Argentina today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

The populist movement in Argentina, led by Juan Perón, embraced individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, setting it apart from many similar movements in Europe and North America. Peronism, characterized by its inclusive nature, actively rejected racism and xenophobia. In their book, "Peronism as a Big Tent," Raanan Rein and Ariel Noyjovich delve into Peronism's efforts to attract support from Argentines of Middle Eastern origins, including Jewish, Maronite, Orthodox Catholic, Druze, and Muslim communities. By tracing the trajectory from Perón's administration in the mid-1940s to the election of President Carlos Menem, of Syrian parentage, in 1989, Rein and Noyjovich provide a nuanced portrayal of Argentina's journey from early attempts to establish a mosque in Buenos Aires in 1950 to the inauguration of the King Fahd Islamic Cultural Center in the nation's capital in 2000.

"Peronism as a Big Tent" explores Perón's personal transformation from perceiving Argentina as a predominantly Catholic country with limited space for non-believers to embracing a vision of a multicultural society that welcomed and celebrated religious diversity. This inclusive spirit continues to resonate today, leaving a lasting legacy.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228008828