Historical Relations between the Military Regime and Sport in Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Abstract

This study seeks to determine the link between the military order and the various sporting practices developed in the province of Santiago del Estero in Argentina from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century, encompassing the social sphere as its field of analysis. To this end, an analysis of diverse bibliographic and documentary sources is used, such as journals, reports, newspapers, and books, which allow for the reconstruction of how this process unfolded locally. In a national and provincial context where daily life was heavily influenced by the military, this imprint had repercussions in different areas of social life, including sports. During a period of growth and flourishing of sports, the intervention of institutions and individuals linked to the army proved fundamental for the consolidation, dissemination, and expansion of these practices within the culture of Santiago del Estero. Through sports, the military order promoted the training of bodies and movement based on the principles of discipline, control, and obedience, establishing itself as a central actor in social organization and in the development of sporting practices during the period analyzed.