Berkley Center

When I was deciding where I wanted to go for my semester abroad, I decided to throw caution into the wind and go somewhere I knew nothing about. All I had heard about Buenos Aires was that it was the “Paris of South America,” and so I set off on my near 30-hour journey from Hong Kong expecting something of a mix between Paris and Barcelona.

Walking around the city, the European influence is evident. It is especially prominent in the stunning architecture around the city. Most of the famous buildings, including the National Congress, the Presidential Palace, and Teatro Colon, are built in the neoclassical style with strong French and Italian influences. The landscaping of the city and its wide avenues remind of walking down a main street in Paris. My host family seems to live off medialunas, the Argentine croissant, pizza, and pasta. The famed tango has its roots in European culture and music. The lifestyle, in particular the languid café culture and that way that dinners and nights out start and end much later than in America, is hugely reminiscent of the European way of life.

This may be unsurprising considering that Argentina is a country of immigrants. It is estimated that Argentina is only second to the United States in the number of immigrants received. Following a huge wave of immigration in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, it was approximated that more than half the inhabitants of Buenos Aires in the 1940s were immigrants mainly from Italy and, today, more than 80 percent of Argentines are descended from colonial era settlers and immigrants from Europe. Thus, there is a popular perception that all Argentines “descended from the boats.” However, other forms of immigration, such as that from its neighboring countries, are often overlooked despite the fact that immigration from Europe has dwindled since the early twentieth century.

Since 1869, the percentage of immigrants from Argentina’s surrounding countries, most notably Bolivia, Paraguay, and Chile, as a part of its population has been constant. In the past ten years, this percentage has increased almost twofold. Yet, not only has it been overlooked, it has been distinguished as inherently different, and worse, than European immigration.

The story of European immigration to Argentina has become romanticized over the years, with parents telling their children that the success of the European immigrant was attributed to hard work. Yet, in reality, it was part of a global trend of immigration in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Moreover, much of their success, although undeniably a product of hard work, was facilitated by the state and due to the circumstances of under population and lack of a work force. Nevertheless, as such, European immigration is perceived as a paradigm of “good,” helpful, and useful immigration. Here, an image is painted of the civilized immigrant who, as a collective, has made Argentina a better place. On the other hand, immigration from its surrounding countries, despite being prevalent before or at least at the same time as European immigration, is perceived as a recent phenomenon. This is in part due to the relatively recent urbanization of these immigrants. More importantly, the perception of immigration from these neighboring countries proposes a direct contrast to that of European immigration. Many deem it to be unwanted and a cause of conflict; popular opinion condemns these immigrants for taking advantage of the state’s resources, in particular free healthcare and education, without giving anything back. Although this is far from reality, prejudice against these immigrants is rife, and its manifestation can be seen in their every day struggles.

In more ways than one, the contrasts presented in Argentina are unmistakable. Argentina has an open border policy; anyone who wants to be an Argentine can be. Thus, immigration from Asia is another recent phenomenon, and it has given rise to the monopoly of chinos, the cheap grocery stores that can be found on virtually every block of the city. Personally, I think the most interesting thing will be seeing how this country of immigrants evolves with these trends, with every one making it more dynamic and cosmopolitan than it already is.