Since December 2023, the enabling environment for civil society in Argentina has been undergoing a process of rapid deterioration. The assumption of power by the La Libertad Avanza government marked a break with the democratic tradition of civic participation, institutional dialogue and the promotion of human rights that characterised the period following the return to democracy. Since then, a scenario has taken hold characterised by the discursive delegitimisation of civil society organisations (CSOs), the suspension of formal dialogue mechanisms, and the adoption of restrictive public policies.
This context includes growing restrictions on the freedoms of expression, association and protest; the use of repressive and surveillance measures; regressive regulatory reforms; and a strong concentration of power in the executive branch. Furthermore, there is a weakening of the legal and administrative framework for the operation of CSOs, alongside a significant reduction in access to public resources and international cooperation. The absence of an open and responsive state, coupled with stigmatising public narratives and a digital environment rife with hate speech, deepens hostility towards collective action.
Taken together, these factors create an adverse environment that limits meaningful civil society participation, increases risks for its actors, and undermines the quality of democracy in the country.
