"La Cámpora" en la última campaña presidencial para entender las relaciones entre movimientos sociales y kirchnerismo

Argentina has a rich history of protests and social movements that have been the catalyst for many changes. In 2003, when Néstor Kichner assumed the presidency, social movements began to function in accordance with the State, and some members were able to assume government positions.  In addition, movements started to form from within the state. 

An example of this type of movement is the “La Cámpora”, a youth social and political movement that identifies with kirchnerism and peronsim and holds the belief that the two political ideologies function together.  “La Cámpora” is unique because it always functioned within the State.    

This paper seeks to explore the relationship between social movements and the state, especially movements that form within the government, through a case study of “La Cámpora” during the presidential and national elections in 2011 by reconstructing and analyzing their activities during the campaign, the participation of members in electoral lists, and their response to the outcomes of the election. 

This paper outlines a brief history of social movements in Argentina and social movement theories to aid in the analysis of the various ways the relationship between the government and “La Cámpora” manifested itself during the election.  It analyzes the values of “La Cámpora”, their involvement in “el Frente Para la Victoria”, their daily activities, the ways that “La Cámpora” showed their support for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner during the election, the activities carried out specifically by “La Cámpora Quijotero” (in Caballito, City of Buenos Aires), participation of members of “La Cámpora” in electoral lists, reactions to results of the election, and reflections on the tensions that this type of relationship can form.  Ultimately, it seeks to prove how the activities during the campaign demonstrate a symbiotic relationship between “La Cámpora” and the government.