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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
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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 : Salvador Allende 1973-1990 : Augusto Pinochet. 1990-1993 : Patricio Aylwin 1993-1999 : Eduardo Frei 2000- : 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 thestereotypes about "left and right wing" types ofpeople. University students who study things likeBusiness Administration or Engineering are usuallythought to be right wing, where as those who studysubjects like Political Science, History, andPsychology are usually thought of as being moreliberal, left wing, and even communist. I experiencedthis when trying to get a job down there with a degreein Political Science. Also people from middle toupper class are generally more right wing and Pinochetfavourable while lower and working classes aregenerally against Pinochet and more left wing. Again,these are stereotypes and generalizations. Likeanything, 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 Chile Britain
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.
