Las formas de reclutamiento del personal político, una vía de entrada al estudio del régimen político provincial. Santiago del Estero (1999-2009)

Abstract

This article focuses on the mechanisms of political leadership formation in the Argentine province of Santiago del Estero as gateways to the study of the provincial political regime during 1999-2009. Through an analysis which articulates both quantitative and qualitative data on the background of the members of the provincial House of Representatives, it is shown that one of the main requirements to have access to a seat is the political capital of representativeness, a characteristic of a democratic regime, which enable to consider the provincial political regime an ‘open’ one. However, trust as well as forging personal bonds with those who are already part of the political power setting is a conclusive requirement, which explains the perpetuation of the official political forces in power.