The Malvinas/Falklands War (1982): Pacific Solutions for an Atlantic Conflict

Identifier:  imarina:9368559

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9368559

Authors:  Bellot, Andrea R.

Abstract:
Although the Malvinas/Falklands War (1982) was relatively short and did not involve a great number of losses, it stands as an important blow in the collective memory of the two nations involved: Great Britain and Argentina. For the British, it was the last “colonial” war and one which allowed Margaret Thatcher to stay in power for almost a decade after the British victory. For the Argentine, it was the only war fought and lost in the twentieth century and it brought about the fall of the dictatorship. This paper will summarise the course of events related to the war, showing how the war implied a major nationalist project for both nations since national honour and national dignity were at stake. By making use of historical publications, this paper will also explore how and why some pacific solutions were ignored before the war broke out, as well as the failure of diplomatic negotiations in putting an end to the conflict.