Argentina–France relations

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Argentine-French relations
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President Mauricio Macri and President Emmanuel Macron in Buenos Aires, 2018. Macri and Macron in November 2018 06.jpg
President Mauricio Macri and President Emmanuel Macron in Buenos Aires, 2018.

Foreign relations between Argentina and France, have existed nearly a century. Both states are members of the G-20.

Contents

Argentina became an independent nation during the Peninsular War, a conflict between the First French Empire and the Spanish Empire. Argentina was a Spanish territory by that time, as the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, and thus at war with France, but the war never left Europe. The Viceroyalty was never attacked directly by French armies. The French attack to Spain indirectly started the Argentine War of Independence. France recognized Argentina as an independent nation by the end of 1830. [1]

France attempted the French blockade of the Río de la Plata during the War of the Confederation, attempting to remove Juan Manuel de Rosas from power. The blockade lasted for some more years after the defeat of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation by Argentina and Chile. France would attempt another blockade, this time allied with Britain, but Rosas defeated it as well.

History

19th century

Battle of Vuelta de Obligado. Museo del Bicentenario - "Combate de la Vuelta de Obligado".jpg
Battle of Vuelta de Obligado.

Relations between France and Argentina are rooted in this country's independence, proclaimed on July 9, 1816 at the Congress of Tucuman, the French political ideals of the Enlightenment were inspiring movement, born in Buenos Aires on May 25, 1810. Later in the same century, ties between the two countries are strengthened by the influx of French to Argentina, which attracts nearly 250,000 people between 1880 and 1910, mostly Basques, Béarn and aveyroneses migrants. At the same time, France is a model to Argentina for its implementation in many areas, particularly in the area of law (influence of the Civil Code), education, college, science and medicine.

The history of Argentina is so intimately linked to that of France from its origins: a highly symbolic way, the liberator Jose de San Martin lived much longer in France than in Argentina, and spent many years in exile in Paris and the Paris region (Grand Bourg) before ending his days in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where he died on August 17, 1850.

French immigrants in Bahia Blanca, 1940 Immigrants.jpg
French immigrants in Bahía Blanca, 1940
Inauguration of the Garden of Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Paris. Jardin Madres y Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo en Paris.jpg
Inauguration of the Garden of Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Paris.

Throughout these two centuries, a unique relationship will build between France and Argentina, whose amplitude can be illustrated by the diversity and intensity of the exchanges between the two countries: education, science, arts, economics and construction of large infrastructures. "Golden Years" (1880–1930), who see big names in architecture, as Paul Parter, René Sergent or Norbert Maillart, build some of the most beautiful buildings in the city, are translated with a strong influence of French taste of the time, which deeply marked the landscape of Buenos Aires. The aristocracy of the "breadbasket of the world" had very strong ties to France for their thinking and their way of life. Buenos Aires won this well-deserved title of "Paris of Latin America." [2]

20th century

The first wave of Frenchs who arrived in the country came mostly from the southern regions of Aquitaine and the Pyrenees. They embarked in Bordeaux to America. The French Basques also constituted a numerically important group. [3] While most French immigrants were integrated into urban life in Buenos Aires and major cities of the country, there were also agricultural colonization projects. The most important took place in Pigüé (southwest of the province of Buenos Aires) and Chaco Province (Mayday departments and Bermejo). There were French settlers, along with Germans and Swiss, in the Esperanza colony, founded in 1865 by Aaron Castellanos. Another group of French immigrants settled in Oberá, Misiones. [4]

France helped the Argentine government carry out the Dirty War, playing a significant role in Argentina's state terrorism and systematic torture of political dissidents. [5] [6]

21st century

Bilateral exchanges reached 1.7 million euros in 2013. Capital goods account for 60% of French exports in Argentina, and products related to the automotive sector more than a third. Imports of Argentine products in France totaled 463 million euros in 2013. These are highly concentrated in the products of agriculture and food industries (more than 80% of the total, or 373 million euros in 2013). The surplus in the trade balance of France amounted to 774 million euros in 2013. France was, in 2013, the sixth supplier of Argentina. With a stock of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) of 2.4 million euros in 2012, France is one of the first investors in Argentina and implanted 250 French companies and groups active in the Argentine growth. This is particularly noticeable in the automotive sector (30% of the French market for both Renault and PSA), wholesale distribution (40% market share), the food industry (Danone and Bongrain) or energy (gas for Total, Schneider Electric) equipment. Argentina the 3rd regional destination for the French exports, behind Brazil and Mexico, but ahead of Chile and, in total, our third trade partner. [7]

Cultural relations

Rue d'Argentine in Paris. Plaque Argentina, 1 rue d'Argentine, Paris 16.jpg
Rue d'Argentine in Paris.
Argentine Station, Paris Metro Line 1. Metro de Paris - Ligne 1 - Argentine (7).jpg
Argentine Station, Paris Métro Line 1.

French immigrants contributed outstanding features to the Argentina culture, especially in the resumption of the production of yerba mate, wine production, sugar (Hileret). Santiago de Liniers, one of the great heroes of Argentina's history, was French. Three Argentine presidents were of French origin: Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, Carlos Pellegrini and Hipolito Yrigoyen; while Alejandro Agustín Lanusse was a great-grandson of an important entrepreneur from Aquitaine. Institutions of the French community, including the French Hospital (French Hospital of Buenos Aires in 2013 has been renamed as César Milstein Hospital), still active, and the socialist group Les Egaux, one of the founders of the Argentine labor movement.

French immigrants as Amadeo Jacques and Paul Groussac had a direct impact on education and Argentine culture. Some Argentine cities, such as Pigüé above, were originated by colonies of French immigrants, and generated an Argentine-French local culture. Carlos Gardel was a native of Languedoc and Provence, the eastern tip of Occitania, became the liberator Hipólito Bouchard who spread the design of the Argentina flag Central America and captured the realistic teaches at the Battle of San Lorenzo.

Architecture

Buenos Aires is a city of diverse architectural influences, especially from Italy, Spain and France. The Parisian flair of Buenos Aires in the San Martin Palace, located on 761 Arenales Street, inspired in the French architecture of the 18th century:

Lunfardo

Lunfardo is an argot of the Spanish language which appeared in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century. It integrated a lot of words and expressions from languages and dialects spoken by immigrants, notably Italians, Spaniards and French. Lunfardo was heavily used in tango lyrics. After 1912, as tango became popular in Paris, French expressions were incorporated into tango lyrics and made their way into lunfardo. It has now become an integral part of the Spanish spoken in Argentina and some of these words are still used on a daily basis.

Examples

  • Beguén - Crush (from the French béguin -crush-)
  • Bulín - Digs (from the French boulin -hole in the wall of a dolecote where the pigeons nest-)
  • Buyón - Food (from the French bouillon -broth-)
  • Calotear - To steal (from the French calotter -to steal-)
  • Dragonear - To flirt (from the French draguer -to flirt-)
  • Fané - Worn out (from the French fané -withered-)
  • Franelear - To caress, to heavy pet (from the French faire flanelle -to go to a whorehouse without making use of any woman-)
  • Macro - Pimp (from the French maquereau -pimp-)
  • Marote - Head (from the French marotte -hatstand-)
  • Ragú - Hunger (from the French ragoût -stew-)
  • Toilette - Bathroom (from the French toilettes -bathroom-)

Notable people

Cultural, scientific, technical and academic cooperation between France and Argentina are part of a long tradition of exchanges. The crisis of 2001 changed however, the possibilities of intervention and collaboration and has led to a redefinition of priorities for our action. She is oriented towards the technical, scientific and university cooperation, without thereby be neglected our artistic and audiovisual cooperation. It is for us to follow the evolution of the country, offering our experience, our creativity, our contributions to the great debates and promoting synergies. [8]

Science

Literature

Academia

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunfardo</span> Argot of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Lunfardo is an argot originated and developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the lower classes in the Río de la Plata region and from there spread to other urban areas nearby, such as the Greater Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Rosario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buenos Aires</span> Capital and largest city of Argentina

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Argentina</span> Overview of the culture in Argentina

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires</span> 18/19th-century French soldier in service of Spain; colonial official in New Spain

Santiago Antonio María de Liniers y Bremond, 1st Count of Buenos Aires, KOM, OM was a Spanish military officer and a viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Although born Jacques de Liniers in France, he is more widely known by the Spanish form of his name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoliche</span> Italian-Spanish pidgin language of Buenos Aires.

Cocoliche is an Italian–Spanish contact language or pidgin that was spoken by Italian immigrants between 1870 and 1970 in Argentina and from there spread to other urban areas nearby, such as La Plata, Rosario and Montevideo, Uruguay. In recent decades it has become more respected and even recorded in music and film. Traces of it may be found in Argentina, Brazil, Albania, Panama, Quebec, Uruguay, Venezuela, San Marcos, Cabo Verde and many other places.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernesto Sabato</span> Argentine novelist, essayist, painter and physicist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the tango</span>

Tango, a distinctive tango dance and the corresponding musical style of tango music, began in the working-class port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay); on both sides of the Rio de la Plata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Argentines</span> Ethnic group

Spanish settlement in Argentina, that is the arrival of Spanish emigrants in Argentina, took place first in the period before Argentina's independence from Spain, and again in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, the Spanish Empire was the sole colonial power in the territories that became Argentina after the 1816 Argentine declaration of independence. Thus, before 1850, the vast majority of European settlers in Argentina were from Spain and they carried the Spanish colonial administration, including religious affairs, government, and commercial business. A substantial Spanish descended Criollo population gradually built up in the new cities, while some mixed with the indigenous populations (Mestizos), with the Black African-descended slave population (Mulattoes) or with other European immigrants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Groussac</span> Argentine writer and historian (1848-1929)

Paul-François Groussac was a French-born Argentine writer, literary critic, historian, and librarian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian Argentines</span> Argentine citizens of Italian descent

Italian Argentines are Argentine-born citizens who are fully or partially of Italian descent, whose ancestors were Italians who emigrated to Argentina during the Italian diaspora, or Italian-born people in Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentina–Spain relations</span> Bilateral relations

Argentina–Spain relations are the bilateral relations between the Argentine Republic and the Kingdom of Spain. Since a great portion of the immigrants to Argentina before the mid-19th century were of Spanish descent, and a significant part of the late-19th century/early-20th century immigrants to Argentina were Spaniards, the large majority of Argentines are at least partly of Spanish ancestry. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Argentines</span> Argentines of French birth or descent

French Argentines refers to Argentine citizens of full or partial French ancestry or persons born in France who reside in Argentina. French Argentines form one of the largest ancestry groups after Italian Argentines and Spanish Argentines. Between 1857 and 1946, 261,020 French people immigrated to Argentina. Besides immigration from continental France, Argentina also received, as early as the 1840s, immigrants with French background from neighboring countries, notably Uruguay, which expanded the French Argentine community., it was estimated that around 7 million Argentines had some degree of French ancestry, up to 17% of the total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France–Uruguay relations</span> Bilateral relations

France–Uruguay relations are the current and historical relations between the French Republic and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of French migration to Uruguay. In the late 19th century, one-third of Uruguay's population was of French descent. Both nations are members of the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata</span> 1845-50 naval blockade of Argentina by Britain and France during the Uruguayan Civil War

The Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata or also known as Paraná War was a five-year-long naval blockade imposed by France and Britain on the Argentine Confederation ruled by Juan Manuel de Rosas. It was imposed in 1845 to support the Colorado Party in the Uruguayan Civil War and closed Buenos Aires to naval commerce. The Anglo-French navy trespassed into Argentina's internal waters to sell their products, as Rosas maintained a protectionist policy to improve the weak Argentine economy. Eventually both Britain and France gave in, signing treaties in 1849 (Britain) and 1850 (France) acknowledging the Argentine sovereignty over its rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentina–Bolivia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Foreign relations between the Argentine Republic and the Plurinational State of Bolivia have existed for over a century. Both countries were part of the Spanish Empire, and share an international border. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentina–Philippines relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of the Philippines, have existed for decades. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, Group of 77, the G20 developing nations, and Forum of East Asia-Latin America Cooperation and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Molar</span> Argentine author and producer

Ben Molar was an Argentine author, composer, musical producer, and talent scout. He created the National Day of the Tango, held annually on 11 December, placed bronze plaques on all 40 corners of Calle Corrientes and produced an interdisciplinary artistic project that combined art, poetry, and music to promote Argentine tango.

Nardo Zalko was an Argentine-French journalist, author, researcher, and historian of tango.

References

  1. Santillán, p. 372
  2. "Presentación & fechas claves".
  3. "Colectividad francesa. Quiénes llegaron" Observatorio de Colectividades, Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
  4. "4 de Septiembre. Día del Inmigrante. Efemérides" Mendoza.edu.ar
  5. Collard, Melanie (2018). Torture as State Crime: A Criminological Analysis of the Transnational Institutional Torturer. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-315-45611-9.
  6. Rothe, Dawn L. (2022). "Book Review: Torture as State Crime: A Criminological Analysis of the Transnational Institutional Torturer". Social & Legal Studies. 31 (6): 964–967. doi:10.1177/09646639221101717.
  7. "Las relaciones comerciales entre Francia y Argentina".
  8. "La cooperación cultural, científica, técnica y universitaria - Ambassade de France en Argentine - Embajada de Francia en Argentina". Archived from the original on 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  9. Embassy of Argentina in Paris
  10. Embassy of France in Buenos Aires