Argentina - 73.58
44
“You either adapt, and survive, or die with the past” - Saw Gerrera
Argentina is a country that was kneecapped by colonial rule and never recovered. The adversity that former Spanish colonial holdings in the new world faced was so great that Argentina should be lauded for not falling into the same squalor as Bolivia and Peru, rather than chastised for failing to meet the lofty expectations set by Uruguay and Chile. Argentina is plagued by corruption, the highest-scoring country to finish with a score of less than ten. They are more corrupt than other countries famed for their graft, including Iraq and India. The Argentine debt crisis reared its ugly head once again in 2020 when Argentina defaulted on its debt for the ninth time 2020. While the debt crisis is not as bad as it was in 2012 when an American hedge fund repossessed an Argentine naval vessel, inflation remains at an all-time high. In 2021, Argentina began to repay some of its debt to the International Monetary Fund and the Paris Club, to whom they owe over forty billion dollars. Argentina struggles with some of the highest economic disparity in the world as the country’s rural farming population is significantly poorer than the Buenos Aires elites. Despite this, Argentina is one of the freest countries on Earth and maintains a representative democracy on par with the United States and New Zealand. Argentina is a country with vast potential. The country has access to vast natural resources, abundant natural beauty, and a large, young workforce. If the country can restructure its economy and escape the weight of its debt, it could become a superpower in the coming years. If it doesn’t, however, the country will be doomed to languish as the world’s greatest underachiever, crippled by Spanish colonial rule and held down by dictatorship, corruption, and mismanagement after the Spaniards left.
Human Rights - 86
Argentina has fully abolished the death penalty. Mining, farming, and forestry companies impede on Native land with impunity, both through kickbacks and an easily exploitable legal code. Argentina has continued to prosecute human rights violators from the Videla era. Police brutality remains an issue and inadequate means exst to investigate allegations of police brutality and punish bad actors within Argentine law enforcement. Argentina has a full gamut of LGBT rights. Abortion was recently legalized to fourteen weeks in Argentina.
Democracy - 89
The president and congress are directly elected. Elections are free and fair, and Argentina is known for its robust runoff system. Voting is compulsory for all 18-70-year-olds. Argentina plays host to a strong multi-party system. Argentine campaign finance law is so loose that candidates can effectively accept bribes during their campaigns. Presidents are quick to declare states of emergency, which grants broad powers and removes checks and balances.
Freedom - 92
Argentina imposed one of the strictest COVID lockdown measures in the Western world from March to October 2020. Many provinces erected borders similar to national borders and interprovincial travel was very difficult, leaving many Argentines stranded away from home for months. People were strictly monitored in public and forced to comply with the COVID lockdown. The Ombudsman’s Office announced plans to “monitor news publications for “hate speech and fake news” but no further action was taken and intentions remain ambiguous. The Argentine Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to prosecute adults for drug possession, stating that “adults should be free to make lifestyle choices without interference from the state.” However, sale, even of minor quantities, is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Economy - 63
Health - 88
Argentina has a life expectancy of 77 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.94%. 14.8% of Argentines are obese and 3.8% are malnourished. Argentina’s universal healthcare system is managed at a provincial level and regulated at a federal level, with each provincial system subject to federal regulations and minimums. Despite this, poor provinces see significantly lower quality care than wealthy ones. 99% of Argentines have access to clean, running water. 29% of adult Argentines smoke regularly.
Corruption - 9
The Argentine Supreme Court is the only non-corrupt court in the entire country. Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at all other levels of the Argentine justice system. Police are reluctant to investigate one of their own, which creates a system where the entire police force is complicit in the corruption of a few bad actors. Attempts have been made to curb police corruption, but due to their largely self-regulating nature and a culture of law enforcement solidarity, these efforts have seen middling results. Native land rights are not adequately protected and the government is willing to turn a blind eye to the exploitation of native land for the right price. The Argentine tax administration is infamously corrupt and is riddled with extortion and embezzlement. The Argentine import and export process is one of the most burdensome in the region. Bribes are necessary to obtain any public services or contracts. President Fernández celebrated his birthday in violation of COVID lockdowns that he himself put in place and is currently trying to avoid the associated corruption trial.
Competency - 50
Argentina has finally begun to pay off debts to the International Monetary Fund and the Paris Club. However, the government is failing to control inflation and the value of the Peso is falling at a record pace. The government is failing to self-regulate; police brutality and corruption are major issues. The government also has several poorly defined and unenforced laws.
Future - 65
Argentina’s future is somewhat uncertain but looks to be trending upwards as the country pays off its debt. After defaulting again in 2020, the country has entered an agreement with both groups to begin paying off its debt. In the years since Argentina has managed to hold up their end of the bargain. However, inflation in Argentina is at an all time high and the government has failed to respond. The government has also been establishing more and more social services, spelling a bright future for social services in Argentina.
Actions Abroad - 43
Argentina has an extensive history as an international belligerent and a leech, but it has begun to reform in recent years. The country has begun to pay off loans to the IMF and Paris Club. Despite reconciling with the United Kingdom, Argentina still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) which fall under the de facto control of the UK. Argentina, along with Brazil, Russia, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, has been lobbying the IPCC for looser regulations surrounding climate change.
1% of Argentines liver under the international poverty line and 32% live under the national poverty line. Argentina has some of the highest economic disparity in the world. 11.67% of Argentines are unemployed. The minimum wage in Argentina was $162 per month at the time of data collection but rapid inflation in Argentina and a lack of accompanying raises to the minimum wage have meant that this figure is out of date. Argentina has a relatively strong universal healthcare system that is managed by the provinces. It is held to a set of guidelines and minimums but despite this, wealthy provinces, namely Buenos Aires, have significantly higher quality universal healthcare than poor provinces. A majority of Argentines are covered by unionized healthcare programs and most wealthy Argentines pay for private care. Argentina’s GDP shrunk 9.9% in 2020 and shrunk 2.1% in 2019. Argentina is suffering from some of the worst hyperinflation in the country’s history, and the government is failing to control the rapidly falling value of the Peso.