In-depth Book Review: Socioeconomic History of Argentina, 1776-1860

This book review focuses on Jonathan C. Brown's "Socioeconomic History of Argentina, 1776-1860," which analyzes Argentina's economic growth in the 19th century, attributing it to increased raw material production and export earnings. The review highlights the book's strengths, such as its focus on export-led economic stimulation and relevant case studies like the “Anchorena Cattle Empire.” It also points out weaknesses, including the author's overemphasis on revisionist interpretations and some exaggeration of economic facts. The review concludes that while the book has some shortcomings, it remains valuable due to its portrayal of Argentina's industrial growth. Desklib provides access to this and other study resources for students.

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The book Socioeconomic History of Argentina, 1776-1860 by Jonathan C. Brown
aims to analyse the socio-economic growth of Argentina during the first half of nineteenth
century. The book also attempts throw lights on the industrial growth as well as stimulation
due to the export production of Argentina during the said period of time (Brown 1979). This
book is one of the commendable, single authored book published by Jonathan C. Brown.
Author Jonathan C. Brown, is a professor of University of Texas. He is famous for his
analytical writing on social sciences. His other books are-Oil and Revolution in Mexico,
Latin (1993) America: A social History of Colonial Period (2005), A Brief History of
Argentina (2009). The purpose of this essay is to focus on the central theme of the book and
analyse the author’s purpose behind writing the book. This study argues that this book has
exaggerated the facts related to the socio-economic growth of Argentina and attempts to
make a critical review on the basis of this argument.
The first two chapters of the book discuss about the colonial setting during the early
nineteenth century. The next chapter focuses on the changes occurred in the socioeconomic
history of the country. The following chapters inform the readers of the factors that
accelerated economic growth during the said period of time. According to the author, the
rapid economic growth of Argentina during the first half of nineteenth century may be
attributed to the increase in the production of raw materials like wool, salted meat, and hides.
Next chapter focuses on the rise in the export earning as well as the expansion of the
domestic market of Argentina. This analytical discussion has been done on the basis of staple
growth (Brown 1979). Thus, this book aims to provide a chronological as well as conceptual
coverage of the socio-economic growth of Argentina.
The author has gathered the essence of the central theme from the works of the the
previous authors like-Burgin, Halperin donghi, Carcano, Ferns, Ferrers (Brown 1979).
According the author the central theme of this book aims to highlight the socio-economic

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development of Argentina and educate the readers about the Agro-economic factors as well
as the intervention of modern technology that accelerated the growth. The book has also
showed how the growth of ancillary industries in Argentina enhanced its export-earning
(Brown 1979).
One of the strengths of the book is that the author Jonathan C. Brown has focused on
the economic stimulation occurred due to export production rather than depending on the
interpretation of the information. Again, he has supported his analysis by a highly relevant
case study –“Anchorena Cattle Empire” (Brown 1979). Such real life case studies has made
the book engrossing. The discussion of leather and textile technology that he has cited in the
book, forms a crystal-clear picture of the expansion of the industrial market for the raw
materials of Argentina. Such a vivid, logical description has enhanced the value of the
content of this book. In order to provide the readers an in-depth view of the socio-economic
scenario the author also motioned the case studies of Rio De La Plata (Brown 1979). Finally,
the book focuses on the growth due to the expansion of the market for agricultural exports
and the intervention of new technology during 1860s (Brown 1979). Hence, it can be said
that the book showcases the over-all socio-economic development of Argentina during the
nineteenth century. These are the major strengths of this book (Brown 1979).
. One of the weaknesses of the book is the dilution of some of the effectiveness of the
central thesis. This may be attributed to the unnecessary insistence on revisionist approach of
the author’s own interpretation (Brown 1979). Again, the author has exaggerated some of the
of economic facts on which the previous authors like Ferns, Ferrers, Halperin Donghi
actually relied on. This led to a little, digression from the core topic. While elaborating the
socio-economic condition prior to nineteenth century, the author provided less focus on the
factors that casted upon a negative impact on the economy of Argentina. Hence the
background story seemed less informative. These are the major weaknesses of this book.

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Again, the readers found the book very costly as compared to the content provided in the
book. They accuse Cambridge University Press for publishing such a book, which is not at all
pocket friendly to an average scholar.
Finally, it can be concluded that, the content of the book would have been more
captivating if the author would have enriched the background story with facts by delving
deep into the reasons behind the low growth rate of the economy prior to nineteenth century.
The author should also avoid unnecessary exaggeration of points. In spite of all these the
book is considered valuable to the readers as there are very few books which portrayed the
real picture of Argentina’s attainment to industrial growth.

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References
Brown, Jonathan Charles. A socioeconomic history of Argentina, 1776-1860. Cambridge
University Press, 1979.

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Bibliography
cambridge.org. 2019. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-
history/article/socioeconomic-history-of-argentina-17761860-by-jonathan-c-brown-
cambridge-latin-american-studies-no-35-new-york-and-london-cambridge-university-press-
1979-pp-xiv-307-2495/.
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(Argentina)." Landscape and Urban Planning 110 (2013): 64-73.
Liberalarts.utexas.edu, Jonathan. 2019. "UT College Of Liberal
Arts:". Liberalarts.Utexas.Edu. https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/history/faculty/brownjc.
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Economic History 77, no. 4 (2017): 971-1006.
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