Jordán Bruno Genta
Encyclopedia
Jordán Bruno Genta, was an Argentine
writer and educator, widely considered the ideologue of the Argentine extreme right-wing.
In his youth, Genta actively campaigned against several attempts at education reform
, fearing that the changes would dilute the influence of Catholic
teachings. After the coup d'etat
of 4 June 1943, Genta was appointed to head the Universidad del Litoral, and gained notoriety as a defender of reactionary
ideas, to the point that the popular FORJA movement and its leader Arturo Jauretche
publicly condemned Genta's positions.
During the Perón
years, many fugitive Nazi officers found refuge in Argentina, some of them collaborating with the Argentine Air Force. Even though mainstream Argentine political discourse discouraged extreme nationalism and anti-semitism
, Genta found a fertile ground for his teachings in the Air Force military schools.
When Perón was removed from power in 1955
, the armed forces were under the influence of liberal
ideas as represented by Pedro Eugenio Aramburu
and the Alsogaray
family. Some conservative circles saw Aramburu's deposing of Eduardo Lonardi
as a coup against traditional Catholic values, which led to the establishment a series of right-wing movements, the most notorious of those being Alianza Libertadora Nacionalista ("Nationalist Liberation Alliance").
In 1958, another education-related fight galvanized the conservative Catholics, and new groups started forming. Most of them saw Genta as their ideological referent, and sought his advice and endorsement. Genta approved of their actions, even those that involved desecration of Jewish cemeteries or physical attacks on Jewish students.
As the 1960s brought left-wing guerrilla activity to Argentina, Genta was recognized as one of the ideologues behind ever-more violent far right groups such as Tacuara. Ironically, some of Tacuara's young recruits would later form the core of the (allegedly left-wing Peronist) Montoneros
movement.
The armed struggle degenerated into the so-called dirty war
, which claimed thousands of lives and cast a heavy shadow over Argentine politics well into the 21st century. Genta himself would be the victim of such violence: on October 27, 1974, a People's Revolutionary Army
(ERP) guerrilla shot Genta nine times as he was leaving his home. Genta died immediately. The gunner left the scene in a getaway car followed by two back-up vehicles. Genta was survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.
For many years, far right activists would congregate at Genta's grave and shout slogans such as Viva la muerte! (Long live death), inspired by Franco
's General Millán Astray, commander of the Spanish Legion
.
Genta's ideas were not confined to the fringes, as they influenced some sections of the military de-facto governments, especially the National Reorganization Process
(1976–1983). His staunch anti-communism and his contacts in the armed forces gained him some consideration from United States
anti-communist operatives. His endorsement of anti-semitic discourse and actions was censured by most of Argentina's mainstream political bodies.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
writer and educator, widely considered the ideologue of the Argentine extreme right-wing.
In his youth, Genta actively campaigned against several attempts at education reform
Education reform
Education reform is the process of improving public education. Small improvements in education theoretically have large social returns, in health, wealth and well-being. Historically, reforms have taken different forms because the motivations of reformers have differed.A continuing motivation has...
, fearing that the changes would dilute the influence of Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
teachings. After the coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of 4 June 1943, Genta was appointed to head the Universidad del Litoral, and gained notoriety as a defender of reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
ideas, to the point that the popular FORJA movement and its leader Arturo Jauretche
Arturo Jauretche
Arturo Martín Jauretche was an Argentine writer, politician, and philosopher.-Early years:...
publicly condemned Genta's positions.
During the Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
years, many fugitive Nazi officers found refuge in Argentina, some of them collaborating with the Argentine Air Force. Even though mainstream Argentine political discourse discouraged extreme nationalism and anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, Genta found a fertile ground for his teachings in the Air Force military schools.
When Perón was removed from power in 1955
Revolución Libertadora
The Revolución Libertadora was a military uprising that ended the second presidential term of Juan Perón in Argentina, on September 16, 1955.-History:...
, the armed forces were under the influence of liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
ideas as represented by Pedro Eugenio Aramburu
Pedro Eugenio Aramburu
Pedro Eugenio Aramburu Silveti was an Argentine Army General. Born in Río Cuarto, Córdoba on May 21, 1903. He was a major figure behind the military coup against Juan Perón in 1955. He became de facto president of Argentina from November 13, 1955 to May 1, 1958...
and the Alsogaray
Alsogaray
Alsogaray is a Basque surname. A branch of the family emigrated to South America in the early 19th century, and sustained a military tradition for several generations, beginning with Coronel Álvaro José Alsogaray's role in the 1845 Battle of Vuelta de Obligado...
family. Some conservative circles saw Aramburu's deposing of Eduardo Lonardi
Eduardo Lonardi
Eduardo A. Lonardi Doucet served as de facto president of Argentina from September 23, 1955 until November 13, 1955.-Biography:He was born on September 15, 1896....
as a coup against traditional Catholic values, which led to the establishment a series of right-wing movements, the most notorious of those being Alianza Libertadora Nacionalista ("Nationalist Liberation Alliance").
In 1958, another education-related fight galvanized the conservative Catholics, and new groups started forming. Most of them saw Genta as their ideological referent, and sought his advice and endorsement. Genta approved of their actions, even those that involved desecration of Jewish cemeteries or physical attacks on Jewish students.
As the 1960s brought left-wing guerrilla activity to Argentina, Genta was recognized as one of the ideologues behind ever-more violent far right groups such as Tacuara. Ironically, some of Tacuara's young recruits would later form the core of the (allegedly left-wing Peronist) Montoneros
Montoneros
Montoneros was an Argentine Peronist urban guerrilla group, active during the 1960s and 1970s. The name is an allusion to 19th century Argentinian history. After Juan Perón's return from 18 years of exile and the 1973 Ezeiza massacre, which marked the definitive split between left and right-wing...
movement.
The armed struggle degenerated into the so-called dirty war
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
, which claimed thousands of lives and cast a heavy shadow over Argentine politics well into the 21st century. Genta himself would be the victim of such violence: on October 27, 1974, a People's Revolutionary Army
People's Revolutionary Army (Argentina)
The Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo was the military branch of the communist Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores in Argentina...
(ERP) guerrilla shot Genta nine times as he was leaving his home. Genta died immediately. The gunner left the scene in a getaway car followed by two back-up vehicles. Genta was survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren.
For many years, far right activists would congregate at Genta's grave and shout slogans such as Viva la muerte! (Long live death), inspired by Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's General Millán Astray, commander of the Spanish Legion
Spanish Legion
The Spanish Legion , formerly Spanish Foreign Legion, is an elite unit of the Spanish Army and Spain's Rapid Reaction Force. Founded as the Tercio de Extranjeros , it was originally intended as a Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion, but in practice it recruited almost exclusively...
.
Genta's ideas were not confined to the fringes, as they influenced some sections of the military de-facto governments, especially the National Reorganization Process
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
(1976–1983). His staunch anti-communism and his contacts in the armed forces gained him some consideration from United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anti-communist operatives. His endorsement of anti-semitic discourse and actions was censured by most of Argentina's mainstream political bodies.