Juan Carlos Portantiero

Who was Juan Carlos Portantiero?

Juan Carlos Portantiero was an Argentine sociologist.

He specialized in the study of the works of Antonio Gramsci. With José Aricó and other intellectuals he was in charge of the magazine Pasado y Presente, with a critical view of Marxism.

He graduated in Sociology in the Buenos Aires University, and went into exile during the last illegal military government because of threats received. He moved into Mexico, where he founded the Controversia journal.

After the return of democracy, he become one of the most respected Argentine scholars and had a direct influence on politics as an advisor to Unión Cívica Radical president Raúl Alfonsín and member of the advising team dubbed Grupo Esmeralda.

He acted as elected dean of UBA's Social Sciences School.