Liberalism, Nationalism and Transnationalism in the Works and Life of Vicente Fidel López (1815-1903)

Abstract

This article explores the contribution made to the consolidation of the Argentine national project, both as a writer and a high-ranking politician, by Vicente Fidel López (1815-1903), a member of the so-called Generation of ‘37. By focusing on some of his less well-known writings, it situates López as a socially inclusive conservative and at the same time as a patrician economic nationalist. Unlike most of the historiography on López, which has focused almost exclusively on his career as a historian, the purpose of the article is to distill the leading ideas of López on political identity out of some of his less well-known works in the fields of linguistics, literature (historical novels), journalism and political essays. It also relates these ideas to his brief performance as national finance minister (1890-1892).