The participation of young Catholics students during the 'Laic or Free' conflict: La Plata, 1958

Abstract

This article aims to communicate the results of an investigation related to the participation of Catholic university students of La Plata during the conflict known as 'Laic or Free' in Argentina in late 1958. In the first part of this paper, the conflict is analyzed within the characteristics of Catholic youth in the mid-twentieth century. A second section presents a historical overview of the various attempts made by Catholics sectors to create 'free universities'. Finally, this work tries to recreate the modes of political participation of young Catholics of La Plata during the conflict. From a qualitative methodological, approach own historical analysis of primary sources, were analyzed Catholic periodicals of local newspaper articles, documents disqualified from the police and the legal framework that was under discussion. In addition, were conducted semi-structured character interviews to players who were representatives from the Catholic youth of the time