Jerónimo Rilla

My current research focuses on personifications of the modern state. Personifications are powerful and fascinating devices that allow us to represent abstract notions in a concrete form, as characters in a narrative. They can help to consolidate notions of order and national identities. One notable example is English philosopher Thomas Hobbes' concept of the Leviathan, introduced in 1651, which continues to resonate today. The Leviathan represents the state as a mighty colossus composed of countless individuals, the people. Likewise, in 1792, the French Republic adopted Marianne, a personification of Liberty, as a symbol of its new and emancipating political organization. Personifications are not only powerful in conveying positive notions, but they also serve to convey negative ones. In early modern European thought, native America was often depicted as the antithesis of the state, personifying disorder and barbarism. However, in the 19th century, Latin American intellectuals began challenging this opposition by creating alternative representations of effective political orders. In my research, I explore how Domingo Sarmiento, a 19th-century Argentine thinker, utilized the figure of Facundo, a local caudillo, to personify the exceptional nature of the Argentine state. Through my research, I aim to provide a critical examination of how state power is constructed and justified. Additionally, I highlight the fact that our understanding of what constitutes order or disorder is always grounded in contested assumptions.