Children of Facundo: Caudillo and Gaucho Insurgency During the Argentine State-Formation Process (La Rioja, 1853-1870) (review)
The Radicals in this early period did not follow their famous electoral strategy of abstention, but they competed in elections with some success in both the capital and the Province of Buenos Aires. However, the party collapsed and in 1897 dissolved after the suicide of its first leader, Leandro Alem, and quarrels between other important figures over strategy and power. Alonso is careful to stress that her arguments cover only this first period but as she points out, this epoch is crucial in establishing the mystique of Radicalism.