Patients of the State: The Politics of Waiting in Argentina

211 Pages·2012·1.12 MB·English

by  Javier Auyero

Patients of the State

Patients of the State
(cid:2)
the politics of
waiting in argentina
Javier Auyero
duke university press
Durham & London 2012
∫ 2012 Duke University Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper $
Designed by Jennifer Hill
Typeset in Garamond Premier Pro by
Keystone Typesetting, Inc.
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
appear on the last printed page of
this book.
Royalties for this book are being
donated to Partners in Health.
Para Gabriela, por todo

With the coming of the Second World War, many
eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or des-
perately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Lis-
bon became the great embarkation point. But not
everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so, a tor-
tuous, roundabout refugee trail sprang up. Paris to
Marseilles, across the Mediterranean to Oran, then
by train, or auto, or foot, across the rim of Africa to
Casablanca in French Morocco. Here, the fortunate
ones, through money, or influence, or luck, might
obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon, and from
Lisbon to the New World. But the others wait in
Casablanca—and wait—and wait—and wait.
Casablanca, screenplay by Julius J. Epstein,
Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch
(cid:2)(cid:3)
For years now I have heard the word ‘‘Wait!’’ It rings
in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity.
This ‘‘Wait’’ has almost always meant ‘‘Never.’’ We
must come to see . . . that ‘‘justice too long delayed
is justice denied.’’
martin luther king jr.,
‘‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’’

contents
acknowledgments xi
introduction. 1
Tempography: Waiting Now and Then
one. 23
The Time of the Denizens
two. 36
Urban Relegation and Forms of
Regulating Poverty
three. 64
Poor People’s Waiting: Speeding Up Time,
but Still Waiting
four. 92
The Welfare O≈ce
five. 128
Periculum in mora: Flammable Revisited
conclusion 153
epilogue 162
methodological appendix 165
notes 169
works cited 175
index 191