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State Reform and the Civil Service in Argentina : Real or Formal Changes ?
Since his election, President Menem has initiated two State reforms (in 1989 and 1996). Beyond calling into question the idea of the state-provider, these reforms are being required to take effect against a back-drop of real revolution in Argentine political culture. The reduction in public expenditure has been realised by rolling-back the state in favour of local authorities and the private sector. The process of decentralisation, which has been pursued since the 1960s, has been accompanied by a significant programme of privatisation. A reorganisation of the public sector has resulted from this. Technical reforms concerning the civil service have, however, led merely to a form of patronage which is more subtle than before. Corruption remains one of the principal preoccupations of Argentine society.

Desde un triple acercamiento analitico se rapasa el impulso modernizador que significaron las reformas administrativas argentina y uruguaya bajo las presidencias radical y colorada, para luego detenerse en los "bloqueos" interpuestos durante los mandatos de Menem y Lacalle. Ambos proyectos crearon un sistema de seleccion y formacion de altos funcionarios, inspirado en el ejemplo de la Escuela Nacional de Administracion Francesa. Sin embargo, la cultura politica signada por la corrupcion y el patronazgo pudo mas que los decisores politicos Alfonsin y Sanguinetti, congelando la reforma del estado en su momento inaugural

Democracy and Administrative Reforms : the Cases of Argentina and Uruguay
After several years of successive military regimes, Argentina and Uruguay returned to democracy, in 1983 and 1984 respectively. The civil service was then in the image of the dictatorial societies : the 'spoils System', over-crowded and underpaid staff, corruption, etc. French-inspired reforms were undertaken with the establishment of a training program for higher civil servants and the creation of an interministerial body in Argentina. In these two countries, however, the reform process was interrupted. it seems that it has not yet succeeded in changing the political culture.