Argentina’s indigenous policy under a libertarian regime: An oxymoron with worrying nuances

Abstract

Although Javier Milei’s administration has only just begun, some of its statements and initiatives already indicate policies that threaten the lives and rights of indigenous peoples. Deeply embedded libertarian principles are in clear conflict with key constitutional mandates regarding indigenous policy. Moreover, libertarian modes of governance amplify entrenched narratives of Argentina’s formation of alterity, which hinder the full implementation of indigenous rights. Consequently, a qualitative shift towards heightened conflict appears to be underway, as the current presidency not only fails to suppress but actively amplifies the racist rhetoric of the country’s most anti-indigenous sectors and interests.