Collective Memory and Democratic Mobilization: Insights from Chile's Constitutional Revolution (2019-2023)

Abstract

This article investigates the enduring impact of historical-political tragedies on current political behavior, focusing on Chile's ``Estallido Social" protests (2019-2020) and the Constituent Plebiscite (2020-2023). Utilizing social media data to analyze political memory, the study contends that protests serve as a strategic engagement tool in municipalities with vivid recollections of past violence, such as Chile's era of institutional violence under Pinochet. LS analyses indicate that Chilean municipalities with pre-1970 military bases experienced heightened protest activity but showed reduced involvement in constitutional voting, without a clear lean towards any political coalition. The 2SLS estimations link this phenomenon to the long-term effects of political victimization during Pinochet's regime and the social media remembrance on the 1973 coup violence. The evidence suggests that while collective memories on political violence may encourage active protest participation, it can also weaken the relationship between voters and political elites, influencing voting behavior.