Alicia Partnoy was born in Argentina in 1955 to a Jewish family. Argentina was subject to political instability at the time, with various military juntas coming to power. Alicia grew up believing that the Peronist regime was best for Argentina and that their socialism was the best way to help the poor materially and to protect them from dangerous corporations and military rule. In college, Peronism was still unpopular among political elites, but it had a number of defenders in the Argentine university system. Partnoy and her husband were among them. When the military junta of 76-79 came into power, they strongly opposed the regime. And when radical guerrillas opposed the junta and the junta responded violently, Partnoy and her husband were radicalized and became involved in the opposition movement more directly.