3. Argentine–Chilean Relations in a Historical Perspective

The goal of this chapter is to provide a general historical overview of the Beagle Channel crisis; it mainly covers the legal, political, and cultural interpretation of the treaties that framed the dispute between Argentina and Chile and to raise the question of whether, in combination, they had a significant role in the event during 1977–1984. Although the most dramatic and sudden effects of the crisis originated in the late 1970s and mid-1980s, many had been anticipated during the preceding decades. Moreover, differences in the interpretation of the legal framework were intensifying and political strategies were changing in both countries before the period under analysis. The chapter contends that through these related processes, the political and legal groundwork had an effect on the establishment of the countries’ respective strategies. For this reason, the first substantive section chronicles the conflict during the ninetieth century. The chapter’s second section surveys its political evolution and the legal strategies in each country prior to the crisis.