The rise of the Argentine Nuclear Program and the thwarted dream of industrialization (1950-1984)

Abstract

The rise of the Nuclear Program in Argentina took place during the second stage of the process of Import Substitution Industrialization, which encourage local industry and the development of metalworking and electronics. In this context, one of the central aims of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) was to improve the domestic industry of goods and services in order to supply future nuclear power plants and promote technological autonomy. However, this philosophy began to struggle with the neoliberal reforms that were implemented after 1976. The primary objective of this work is to draw and analyze the main strategies implemented by CNEA to promote local industry. In this sense, this paper will be focus in the creation of the Metallurgy Department (1955), the Technical Assistance Service to Industry (1962), the National Industry Group (1965) and the creation of an Industrial Architect, ENACE SA (1980).