Advanced Search. Couso, Journal of Latin American Studies "A reader of The Pinochet Regime may develop a perverse appreciation for the ruthlessness and cunning that enabled Pinochet to stay in or near power.
It stands indeed as a model for those who want to analyse the characteristics of dictatorships, especially sophisticated dictatorships such as that of Pinochet. Each argument is documented in ways that enrich and often challenge conventional wisdom. This seminal book was inspired by a series of questions: What explains the endurance of Augusto Pinochet's authoritarian regime in Chile, a country with a lengthy democratic tradition?
What mechanisms secured the regime's political stability and broad-based support? What role did neoliberal ideas play in authoritarian discourse and policy? How could two such opposite forces as political coercion and economic freedom coexist? And why the fascination with Pinochet's personality and leadership among elites and lower-income sectors alike? This indicated to many that the government could not easily be defeated by electoral means, and thus support for a military solution increased.
Then on 11 September the situation came to a head and a military coup was enacted led by General Pinochet. A military government was installed. It was bloody, murderous and deeply disturbing. The junta considered it necessary to control all executive, legislative and constitutive powers and congress was closed. Tens of thousands were arrested and detained without charge Ensalaco, , p. The coup quickly converted into a state of siege that lasted until As a result thousands of people were reported missing.
Through intense indoctrination and made cruel by rigorous training, soldiers were fuelled with hatred on their mission to eradicate communism. The new government, the military junta, became the force behind a new societal order. The junta de-politicised the state by eliminating Marxism and adhered to neo-liberal, free-market policies. The bureaucratic authoritarian regime repressed and controlled the population in order to carry out programmes of economic growth. Although copper remained nationalised, many state owned industries were sold and land returned to foreign owners Hecht, , p.
The Chicago economist Milton Friedman visited Chile in and advised that Chile adopt an extremely strict monetarist economic recovery, which Pinochet introduced Hecht, , p. A market mentality was imposed in all areas of life, through an intense free market approach.
It gained vast support among the rich, bourgeois groups of society who had felt victimised by the Popular Unidad government. The recession of damaged Chile more than any other Latin American country. In GDP growth was negative by Huge losses were registered in the private financial system and in effective unemployment reached 30 percent Wickham and Stone, The constitutional reforms introduced by Pinochet in were widely regarded to have improved political stability in Chile and eventually led to a return to democracy in It also introduced a two-round runoff system where if none of the candidates received a majority there would be a second round of elections Sigmund, The favourable plebiscite on the new constitution gave the military a continuing presence in the institutions of the state.
During the Chacarillas speech in , Pinochet outlined a process of political transition that would be extended to civilian hands under new political rules. These reforms were arguably necessary as discontent and political instability was beginning to surface Hecht, , p. During organisations and networks developed to deal with issues such as daily survival, food, housing, jobs as well as human rights started to mobilise against the dictatorship Hecht, , p.
It is evident that Allende had clear and ambitious objectives; he strived to achieve his socialist ideals through democratic constitutional means, however internal and exogenous factors led to an inevitable demise. In contrast Pinochet used his power to install a military dictatorship, controlling the masses and introducing a neo-liberal economic structure, whilst also reversing the changes Allende implemented.
Whereas under Allende the majority of the population, were beginning to experience a new socioeconomic order where the lives for ordinary people were improving. Higher GDP does not mean an increase of living standards and quality of life; therefore policies aimed at maximising GDP are ill conceived.
However, the repression and human rights violations, in my opinion reveal that any successes are ineffective, as they have no real positive impact on the lives of the majority. The state and business contributed nothing.
Under the leftist President Michelle Bachelet , Chile in began to provide minimum pensions for the poorest retirees , too. Under Allende, Chile was headed toward free, universal health care. It is critically underfunded and offers lower-quality care than the private system. But they have personal experience with the social inequality it gave rise to. Mass protests are the result of those two realities. Correction: This story has been corrected to more accurately interpret data on the wealth gap in Chile.
Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Protest music in Santiago, Chile, Nov. Posner , Clark University.
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