Oscar Oszlak: "El Estado es el cemento que mantiene unidos los ladrillos de una sociedad"

Oscar Oszlak 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 frequently cited when discussing state formation and public management in the region. In 2023, he received the Argentine Nation Researcher Distinction, awarded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for his career in the social sciences. Oszlak has been a consultant on institutional strengthening projects for ECLAC, the IDB, the UNDP, and the World Bank. His academic work has been characterized by the integration of teaching, applied research, and technical advising. He has been awarded honorary doctorates from the Universities of Córdoba and Cuyo. His books are fundamental to understanding the process of state formation and the myriad mechanisms of state operation. In the first part of this interview with Marcelo Insúa, he reflects on his early experiences in universities, the state, and the many challenges of its relationship with society.