Oscar Oszlak (born May 5, 1936, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine political scientist and economist. He has conducted research on the state, public administration, and public policy in Latin America.
His work is often cited in studies addressing state formation and public management in the region. In 2023 he received Argentina's «Distinguished Researcher of the Nation Award», granted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for his career in social sciences.
Oszlak has served as a consultant on institutional strengthening projects for the ECLAC, the IDB, the UNDP, and the World Bank. His academic activity has combined teaching, applied research, and technical advisory work.
He has been awarded honorary doctorates from the National University of Córdoba (UNC) and the National University of Cuyo, and has taught at universities abroad.
Academic career Oszlak earned degrees in Public Accounting (1958) and Economics (1963) from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Between 1964 and 1965 he attended the International Tax Program at Harvard Law School, and later completed graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, obtaining a Ph.D. in Political Science (1970) with a dissertation on the agricultural taxation system under Chile’s agrarian reform.
Upon returning to Argentina, Oszlak joined the faculty at UBA, where he has directed the Graduate Program in Public Administration at the Faculty of Economic Sciences.
From 1983 to 1985 he served as Undersecretary for Administrative Reform and presidential adviser in the administration of Raúl Alfonsín. He has also worked as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), ECLAC, and UNDP.
Since 1985, he has taught courses and seminars at institutions including the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), as well as other Latin American universities. His analyses are frequently referenced in academic and media discussions.
Works His research focuses on the historical and political analysis of the State and the processes of state formation in Latin America. Notable works include: La formación del Estado argentino: orden, progreso y organización nacional (1982). Estado y sociedad: las nuevas reglas del juego (1997). Gobernabilidad y construcción democrática en América Latina (2003). El Estado en la era exponencial (2019).
His publications address topics such as bureaucracy, state capacity, and the relationship between the State and civil society. His academic production is used in graduate and postgraduate programs on public policy and administration.
Selected publications Oszlak, O. (1982). La formación del Estado argentino. Buenos Aires: Editorial de Belgrano. Oszlak, O. (1997). Estado y sociedad: las nuevas reglas del juego. Buenos Aires: CIPPEC. Oszlak, O. (2003). Gobernabilidad y construcción democrática en América Latina. Buenos Aires: CLAD. Oszlak, O. (2019). El Estado en la era exponencial. Buenos Aires: CLAD.
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