Feb 21 • 09:05 UTC 🇦🇷 Argentina La Nacion (ES)

Public lands: the emphyteusis, Bernardino Rivadavia, and a success that was not

This article examines Bernardino Rivadavia's initiative to grant public lands to citizens in exchange for a fee, which ultimately failed to achieve its intended outcomes.

The article delves into Bernardino Rivadavia's historical proposal to allocate public lands to the children of Argentina under a political regime that aimed to establish populations and enhance family welfare. This initiative was intended to combat the plight of the impoverished who suffered at the hands of the powerful. However, the concept of emphyteusis, which refers to a long-term lease of property in exchange for an annual fee, faced significant challenges and has been prohibited in Argentina for some time. The piece reflects on the visionary yet ultimately ineffective nature of Rivadavia's ideas concerning land distribution.

Rivadavia's emphasis on using public property to uplift the marginalized members of society speaks to a broader historical struggle within Argentina concerning land ownership and distribution. The article explains that although the intention behind the emphyteusis was noble, it was also misguided, as the contract in question has been outlawed in the country. This raises questions about how such policies could realistically be implemented in a way that benefits the poor without falling prey to the interests of those in power.

Ultimately, the article serves as a reminder that while the ambitions for social progress through land reform were present in the 19th century, the practicalities surrounding such initiatives often led to underwhelming results. It ends by highlighting the need for contemporary discussions around land policy to consider the historical context of failed initiatives such as Rivadavia's emphyteusis to avoid repeating past mistakes.

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