A researcher from CONICET rejected Argentina's sovereignty over the Falklands and called for recognition of the Kelpers

Marcos Novaro, principal researcher at CONICET, recently published an article in the media outlet TN titled “The supposed ‘anti-Argentina campaign’ feeds our nationalist paranoia,” in which he relativizes the sentiment of defending the country against external criticism and rejects Argentina's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

In his article, which was harshly criticized by the public, Novaro attempted to discredit the societal reaction to the current hate campaign against the country on the international stage, denying its existence and attributing those perceptions to an internal construction.

In this regard, he stated that society tends to engage in a “traumatic exercise of victimhood” in response to any external criticism, thus minimizing a phenomenon that has been gaining significant attention in recent weeks.

Furthermore, he argued that the sentiment surrounding the Falkland Islands is deliberately reactivated as a form of emotional refuge, describing it as a resource to feel “threatened and misunderstood by the world.” This interpretation was strongly questioned for relativizing a historical claim upheld by Argentina.

Along the same lines, the CONICET researcher wrote that something is missed “that we never had,” a statement that implies a rejection of Argentina's sovereign claim over the islands. His remarks sparked significant controversy for attempting to blur a central cause for the country's foreign policy and support the British position.

The kelpers

However, Novaro's reprehensible statements are not new. Another concerning point is his position regarding the kelpers, the inhabitants of the islands implanted by the United Kingdom after the expulsion of Argentines.

Novaro holds a view aligned with the recognition of their "self-determination," which differentiates him from the historical stance of Argentine diplomacy.

In 2012, Novaro was one of the main signatories of a manifesto titled “Falklands: an alternative vision,” which proposed a different approach to the conflict.

In that document, the need to recognize the kelpers' right to decide their own destiny and their political status was raised, arguing that sovereignty or citizenship cannot be imposed on them, which they openly reject.

Moreover, the text promoted considering them as subjects of rights and treating them as valid interlocutors in the discussion, asserting that the National Constitution requires respecting their freedoms and way of life. This perspective implies ignoring that they are a British population forcibly implanted in Argentine territory.

Novaro's bizarre statements, a researcher at CONICET, come amid a strong anti-Argentina campaign, driven from abroad through social media, aimed at discrediting the country internationally.