Chile 1997–1998: The Revenge of Incomplete Democratization

Abstract

The author seeks to analyse the repercussions and consequences of the Pinochet affair for Chilean domestic politics. He explains how the legacy of seventeen years of authoritarian rule has shaped the deep divisions within Chilean society regarding the prosecution of the Chilean former dictator in the London courts. Chile is an incomplete democracy and Pinochetism is very much alive in Chile today. The author is very critical of the role played by the current Chilean government and political class, for their behaviour during the affair. In granting a special mission to the General which gave him immunity and later supported his legal case after initial hesitation, the government has shown confusion that has not advanced the case for full democratization and justice in Chile. The ambiguous behaviour of the political class during the episode has discredited its prestige in the eyes of public opinion. Chilean society, according to the author, has missed an opportunity to advance justice and the dignity of the country.

Brechas, representación y congruencia élite-ciudadanía en Chile y Uruguay

“…Las preferencias por más intervención estatal son llamativas en Chile, ya que durante la dictadura se implementaron con bastanteéxito reformas estructurales que implicaron una importante reducción del Estado y la creación de mercados no convencionales, con bajos niveles de regulación e intervención estatal (Solimano, 2014). Este modelo económico no se alteró con la recuperación democrática, al contrario, una serie de elementos garantizaron su intocabilidad (Garretón, 1999;Huneeus, 2014).…”

Civil Society Organizations, Advocacy, and Policy Making in Latin American Democracies

“…53. Some scholars offer institutionalist explanations of these attitudes, pointing to technocratic policy making, limited access to institutions, and the other factors discussed earlier (Bickford 1998;Garretón 1999;Hite 2000;PNUD 2002;Portales 2000;Segovia 1999). Angell (2010), who regards many of these problems as overstated, notes that although parties have become increasingly centralized and controlling, the level of trust in them, which was 12 (Peruzzotti 2003).…”

Factores de acceso y permanencia de la élite política gubernamental en Chile (1990-2010)

“…Las características de estos procesos han sido abordadas ampliamente por autores como Garretón (1997Garretón ( , 1999, Godoy (1999), Tironi y Agüero (1999), Valenzuela (1999), Huneeus (2005), Siavelis (2009), entre otros (ver Garretón, 2005;Garretón & Garretón, 2010). Estos autores señalaron la existencia de enclaves autoritarios, describieron el carácter pactado de la transición, debatieron con respecto a la generación (o no) del clivaje autoritarismo-democracia y abordaron la existencia de enclaves de transición.…”