Public Services in dispute. An approach based on the case of Aerolíneas Argentinas

Abstract

The definition of ‘public service’ is variable because of its strong political burden, since it will depend on the capacity of certain social actors to legitimizing its construction of meaning in public debate. The question we seek to answer is how the conception of the role of public services has changed historically, taking the case of Aerolineas Argentinas as a model and a period which starts in the re-nationalization of the company by the end of 2008 until the conclusion of Cambiemos alliance government administration in december 2019. The selected case is illustrative given the persistence of the discussion about its status public service in the media around two axes: the utility of the service and the need for the state to take charge of the company. This work has been carried out based on several information sources; such as the written press, company releases and statements published on official social networks and expressed in various media.