Borges and Sebreli dispute illustrates Argentine political polarization

A historical dispute between Jorge Luis Borges and Juan José Sebreli in 1958 is being used to analyze the dynamics of political polarization in Argentina. The incident occurred when the Argentine Society of Writers (SADE) organized a tribute to Ezequiel Martínez Estrada.

Borges, then director of the National Library, and Sebreli were both scheduled to participate in the event. However, Borges refused to attend after learning that Sebreli had published a column praising a work by Peronist writer Miguel Ángel Speroni. The column in question noted that a Peronist author had acknowledged negative aspects of the regime, including instances of torture.

Following Borges' refusal, SADE attempted to reschedule Sebreli's participation, but he also declined in protest of what he perceived as an attempt to hide the snub. The episode is cited as an example of the deep ideological divides and the methods used by both left-wing and right-wing populism to exclude opposing societal segments.