Un double exil : histoires d’indésirables italiens en Argentine au cours des années 1930

During the 1930s, Argentina was gripped by a vast trade union mobilisation, particularly in the building and public works sector. The workers' movement was led by a mixed leadership, made up of both Argentines of immigrant background, and a large number of foreigners from the most recent waves of migration. These strikes occur in a decade of upheaval in Argentine history, starting from the coup d'état of September 6th,1930 which brought to power General José Félix Uriburu, as expression of the conservative and nationalist right. Uriburu and his successor, Agustín Pedro Justo, engaged in a relentless repression of the trade union and communist movement. Foreign activists became the target of arrests and deportations. Among them, five Italian trade union activists were deported to their country of origin in October 1937, where they were immediately confined by the fascist regime. Based on the history of these Italian trade unionists, this article aims to understand the threat they posed to the countries of immigration and emigration. These transnational actors participated in the circulation of ideas and organisational models perceived as a threat by Argentina and Italy, which thus collaborated to counter their militant initiative.