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Before going to Chile….

Before going to Chile…. Lets start considering this question: Argentina has one of the strongest labor movements in Latin America. Can you think in ways Menem was able to control workers’ pressures and impose his structural reforms?. Don’t get lost! Where we are in this class….

Samuel
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Before going to Chile….

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  1. Before going to Chile…. • Lets start considering this question: • Argentina has one of the strongest labor movements in Latin America. Can you think in ways Menem was able to control workers’ pressures and impose his structural reforms?

  2. Don’t get lost!Where we are in this class… • Again (and again), our main questions are: • Why have Latin America not achieved greater economic development? • What makes Latin America politically instable? • Argentina illustrates one path of economic and political development: • Tensions and conflicts within the elite and the exclusion of important sectors have seriously damaged options of economic development and political stability. • Chile illustrates a different path: • First, progressive inclusion of social sectors allowed an extensive period of political stability (until 1973!) • Second, while polarization was a crucial factor explaining the military coup in 1973, political consensus was a crucial factor explaining the re-establishment of democracy in 1990. • Third, Chile shows an important anomaly in relation to other democratic regimes: the high level of military autonomy

  3. Chile: The Big Picture • Brief Political Chronology: • Republican Period (1810-1925) • 1810-1831: “Conservative Republic” (oligarchic governments) • 1831-1891: “Liberal Republic” (Still oligarchic governments) • 1891-1925: “Parliamentary Republic” (Oligarchic govts. Inclusion middle-c) • 1925-1932: Instability period. (Short military coup in 1931) • Progressive democratization (1925-1973) • 1932-1952: “Popular Front” period (4 middle class govts/) • 1958-1964: Alessandri’s govt. Conservative party govt. • 1964-1970: Frei’s govt. Center-Christian Democrat • 1970-1973: Allende’s govt. Leftist-Socialist • Military regime • 1973-1990: Pinochet’s military Regime. Dictatorship • Re-establishment of Democracy • 1990-1994: Aylwin govt. Center-Left coalition (Concertacion) • 1994-2000: Frei’s govt. Center-Left coalition (Concertacion) • 2000-2006: Lagos’ govt. Center-Left coalition (Concertacion)

  4. Chile: The Big Picture • In comparison to other Latin American countries, Chile has had a very stable and progressively inclusive political system. • Economically, Chile has enjoyed more stability than other countries in Latin America in the last 20 years. • Two central questions to analyze: • A) What are the factors causing this long stability? • B) Why was this stability violently broken in 1973?

  5. Chile today: some facts • Chile: Long and thin country (3,000 x 90 kilometers) • 15 millions people/ Favorite sports: Soccer and Tennis • Economy: • Until 1970s, based on a single commodity: copper. • After 1970s: Wine, grapes, fruits, fish, wood • After 1983: consistent economic growth. Unilateral openness to trade • Social: Clear social stratification: upper/middle/lower classes • Culture: Chile is culturally conservative. Influence of Church and upper-cl. • Politics and Institutions: • Strong party system (Clear ideological divisions bet. Right/Center/left • Low levels of corruption within the elite • Strong state • Main problems • The role of the military in politics • High levels of income inequality

  6. Explaining Chile’s Political Stabilitybetween 1810-1973 • The main characteristics of the economy in Chile between 1810 and 1973: • 1800s-early 1900s: Agriculture and mining (Silver, nitrates, copper) • 1900-1973: Copper, some industrialization during 1940s (textiles) • 1970s-2000: Copper, sea products, agricultural products • Who was controlling the economy during the 1800s? • When the middle class enter into the political scene in Chile? • When did workers enter into the political scene in Chile?

  7. Chile:Explaining Political Stability • As Argentina, Chie was controlled by powerful groups of society (the elite). But, landowners and mining owners agreed to resolve disputes within the political system. • In Chile, when new groups of society pressured the elites, these elites responded by repressing them first, but including them later. • The example of Alessandri during 1920s approving the Labor Code. • Key aspect: government preemption of conflicts

  8. Chile:Explaining political Stability • Thus, political stability can be explained because: • A) governments preempted conflicts by including new sectors, anticipating conflicts. • b) Political parties represented people’s demands • The Era of Party Politics (1932-1973) • What are the main features of the era of party politics? (121)

  9. Chile:From Stability to Instability • Competition, Coalitions, democratic politics. • Thus, Chile a case of extreme political stability until 1973. • Why a military coup? • Different interpretations: • external factors (role of the US) • Domestic factors • Role of the Military • Role of political parties • Today we will analyze only the political party factor

  10. Chile:From Stability to Instability • To explain the military coup, we need to understand what was going on in Chile before. • Frei’s economic and social policies (1964-1970) • Eduardo Frei, a Christian Democrat, moderate president, very charismatic . • The slogan of his government: “Revolution in Liberty” • Economic and social policies? (123-126) • Did the US and World Bank support his policies?

  11. Chile:From Stability to Instability • Salvador Allende (1970-1973) “The Chilean way toward Socialism” • Doctor, Socialist, supported by workers and a marxist-coalition • 1970 elections: • Socialist (Allende): 36.2% • Conservative (Alessandri): 34.9% • Center (Tomic): 27.8% • The Electoral system problem (winner-take-all, no second round) • Economic and social policies? • Did the US and the World Bank support this government?

  12. Chile:The “unexpected” outcome • Before 1960s: competition, coalitions, democratic politics • During 1970s: competition, polarization, anti-democratic politics • September 11, 1973: • The military coup was against Chile’s Republican traditions • The military coup was driven by a strong anti-marxist sentiment • Instability explained by: • A) unwillingness to negotiate and achieve agreements • B) Extreme polarization among parties • C) Willingness of military institutions to eliminate a sector of society • D) Acceptance of international actors of this violent path.

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