Arab Argentine

Arab Argentine refers to Argentine citizens or residents who are of Arab ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage or identity. The majority of Arab Argentines are from either Lebanese or Syrian background. The intermarriage in the Arab community, regardless of religious affiliation, is very high; most community members have only one parent who has Arab ethnicity. As a result, the Arab community in Argentina shows marked language shift away from Arabic. Only a few speak any Arabic, and such knowledge is often limited to a few basic words. Instead, they have adopted Spanish or other languages of Argentina.

History

The history of the Arab Argentines goes back to the early 19th century, when a number of immigrants from various Arab nations, particularly Lebanon and Syria, began to arrive in Argentina. These immigrants were primarily Christian Arabs, and they quickly integrated into the Argentine society. The immigration continued throughout the 20th century, with a peak in the late 1940s and 1950s following the Second World War and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Culture

Arab Argentines have made significant contributions to the Argentine culture. They have been particularly influential in the field of literature, with several well-known Argentine writers, such as Eduardo Galeano and Juan Gelman, being of Arab descent. Arab Argentines have also made their mark in the world of business, politics, and entertainment.

Religion

The majority of Arab Argentines are Christians, primarily belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and various Protestant denominations. There is also a significant minority of Arab Argentines who are Muslims, primarily of the Sunni tradition. There are also smaller numbers of Druze and other religious groups among the Arab Argentine community.

Notable Arab Argentines

There are many notable Arab Argentines in various fields. In politics, Carlos Menem, who served as the President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999, is of Syrian descent. In the field of entertainment, Mona Maris, a famous Argentine actress of the early 20th century, was of Lebanese descent. In the world of business, Eduardo Elsztain, one of Argentina's wealthiest individuals, is of Syrian descent.