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To Pinochet and Back
The Authoritarian Culture of Chile
Republic of Chile: Basic Info
-Population 15 Million (July 1999)
-GDP $184 Billion (Peru $111B,
Argentina $374B, Brazil $1T)
-89% Roman Catholic
-A Democracy Since 1990
-Major Industries: Mining (Copper and
Gold), Fishing and Forestry.
Republic of Chile: Leadership
1970-1973
1973-1990
1990-1993
1993-1999
2000-
: Salvador Allende
: Augusto Pinochet.
: Patricio Aylwin
: Eduardo Frei
: Ricardo Lagos
The Pinochet Primer!
-In 1970, left-winger Salvador Allende
was elected President.
-The CIA was unhappy with Allende,
and pursued a number of avenues in
removing him from office
-Nixon authorized $10M to be put
towards destabilising Chile and
removing Allende from power.
Salvador Allende cont.
-Even before the election, President
Nixon had secretly initiated “a major
effort to see what could be done to
prevent Allende's accession to power.”
-With significant US funding and
intervention against his government, it
didn’t take long for Allende’s
government to crumble.
Salvador Allende cont.
-In September 1973, the head of the
Chilean military, Augusto Pinochet,
staged a massive military operation
against Allende.
-The presidential buildings were hit with
airstrikes and the government
destroyed!
-Allende was killed during the coup.
Pinochet the Dictator
-Pinochet billed himself as Chile’s
saviour, and many Chileans agreed with
him.
-As soon as he assumed power,
Pinochet set out to kill or harass anyone
who opposed his rule.
-The US ignored the flagrant human
rights abuses suffered by Pinochet’s
enemies.
Pinochet and the United States
-The United States largely ignored
Pinochet’s wrongdoings, since his path
to leadership had been paved with
American dollars.
-Even when an American Journalist who
“knew too much” was killed, the CIA did
nothing, even going so far as to “black
out” its knowledge of the event.
The CIA on Charles Horman
1980
1999
Pinochet’s Government
-During the 1970s and 1980s, Pinochet
continued to remove anyone who
opposed him.
-In 1980, Pinochet wrote a constitution
that allowed Chile to return to
democracy by 1990.
-Once Pinochet was voted out, he
assumed the position of “life senator”
Pinochet’s Government
-The Chilean people largely looked the
other way during such abuses, because
they felt that Pinochet had built their
economy and nation into a powerful
force within South America.
-Pinochet allowed American economists
to exert considerable control over his
economy.
Chile’s “economic miracle”
-For nine years, the Chicago economists
experimented with Chile.
-It was a disaster. National banks
crumbled, debt skyrocketed, and the
citizens rioted. Over 40% of the nation
lived in poverty (twice the pre-Pinochet
levels).
-Reluctantly, Pinochet booted out the
Chicago boys and returned to
Keynesian economic interventions.
The facts on the “miracle”
-1973 per-capita GDP: $3600
-1993 per-capita GDP: $3170
(5th worst 20-year performance in Latin America)
-1972: 27% without adequate housing
-1988: 40%
-by 1989, Chile had the worst income
inequality on the continent.
Post-Pinochet Chile
-In 1990, Pinochet stepped down as
President, and was replaced by a
democratic government led by Eduardo
Frei.
-Since then, Chile has struggled to
rebuilt its economy and political system.
-Chile recently elected moderate
socialist Ricardo Lagos.
Social Repercussions
-Many Chileans still see Pinochet as a hero, and are
convinced that he brought prosperity to Chile.
-Opinions on Pinochet’s authoritarian government sharply
divide the Chilean people.
-Some spit as his name, while others call him “abuelo”
(grandfather) affectionately.
Social Repercussions
“Some other lingering effects of his leadership are the stereotypes
about "left and right wing" types of people. University students
who study things like Business Administration or Engineering are
usually thought to be right wing, where as those who study
subjects like Political Science, History, and Psychology are usually
thought of as being more liberal, left wing, and even communist. I
experienced this when trying to get a job down there with a degree
in Political Science. Also people from middle to upper class are
generally more right wing and Pinochet favourable while lower and
working classes are generally against Pinochet and more left
wing. Again, these are stereotypes and generalizations. Like
anything, there are exceptions.”
Social Repercussions
-Modern Chile still retains a formidable police presence, described
by one Canadian student as “police with submachine guns on
every street corner”.
-There exists significant anti-American sentiment in Chile even
today as a result of their actions during the 1970s and 1980s.
-Demonstrations and riots are commonplace, as citizens seek to
take an active role in government.
-Modern-day politicians are seen to be honest and hardworking,
and many are indifferent as to the fate of their former dictator.
Social Repercussions
Social Repercussions
Chile
Britain
Social Repercussions
Social Repercussions
Social Repercussions
Summary
-Chile suffered greatly under Pinochet’s rule
-A period of BA did little good to Chile, improving some
areas and hurting others
-While many Chileans see their time under BA as having
been fruitful, outside analysis generally disagrees
-If the western world is to learn anything from Chile, it
should be that BA is not necessarily an effective method of
developing a nation.