Rodolfo Hector Terragno

Dr. Rodolfo Hector Terragno is a lawyer, historian, politician, and also a member of the American Philosophical Society and the Argentine Academy of History. Following the military coup in Argentina (1976), Terragno emigrated to Britain and began to work on political philosophy at the London School of Economics, eventually becoming an associate of London University's Institute of Latin American Studies. In his book, The Challenge of Real Development, he emphasized government-business cooperation in promoting science and education as the base for the growth of developing countries. In Scotland, he discovered the Maitland Papers, revealing a secret British plan to invade South America and take over the viceroyalty of Peru. He is additionally the author of several books on South American independence in the nineteenth century. In An Intimate Diary of San Martín, Terragno uncovers the little-known European activities of the Argentine liberator, aimed at consolidating the fledgling independence of Peru (1824). Terragno returned to Argentina in 1983 as a member of Raúl Alfonsín's cabinet, and has since served as Minister of Public Works and Services and Chief National Minister. He is the President of the UCR, Argentina's historical party and has also served as Representative and Senator.