Both a political biography of Carlos Pellegrini and a study of political economy, this book challenges traditional views of Argentine history. Covering the period from 1880 through 1916, Richmond reconstructs this period of elite rule. He demonstrates that Pellegrini solved recent problems nearly 100 years earlier and questions why the military, middle class reformers, and populists have failed where the elites often succeeded. The author's main hypothesis is that the Pellegrini regime was a turning point in Argentine history. The departure of the elites coincided with a decline in stability in this country. This work focuses on Pellegrini's two year presidential term during which he strengthened the economy and overhauled the fiscal system. Within this context the author examines three related themes: Argentina's ties to Europe, the rise of nationalism, and Pellegrini's relationship with Julio Roca. Making extensive use of archival material rarely used by historians, Richmond concludes by discussing socioeconomic forces that have weakened Argentina since the fall of Peron in 1955.

Carlos Pellegrini and the Crisis of the Argentine Elites is a study of the life and times of Carlos Pellegrini, an important leader who pulled Argentina out of the deep fiscal and political crisis of 1890. Covering the period 1880 to 1916, chapters include: Political Disputes and Socioeconomic Change, 1870-1886; Juarez Celman and the 1890 Revolt; Pellegrini's Fiscal & Economic Policies; Conflict in the Countryside; Diplomacy and National Politics; Evolution as Independent Statesman 1893-1906; Success and Failure of Elite Rule