Background
- After the overthrow of Salvador Allende in September 1973, General Augusto Pinochet established one of Latin America’s most repressive military regimes.
- The dictatorship ended Chile’s long tradition of democracy and marked a shift from socialist reform to authoritarian rule and neoliberal economics.
- Pinochet justified his rule as necessary to restore order, fight communism, and rebuild the economy after years of crisis.
Definition
Coup d’état
- A coup d'état is the sudden, illegal, and often violent seizure of power from a government by a small group of people, typically the military or other political elites.
Reasons for the Rise to Power
- Political Polarization
- Under Allende (1970–73), divisions deepened between left and right; Congress was gridlocked, and violent clashes increased.
- Economic Crisis
- Inflation rose above 500%, food shortages spread, and production fell due to strikes and falling exports.
- Loss of Middle-Class Support
- The middle class and business sector feared socialism and instability.
- U.S. Intervention
- The CIA funded opposition groups, labor strikes, and propaganda to undermine Allende’s government.
- Military Intervention
- Claiming to defend “national security” and prevent a communist revolution, the army led by Pinochet seized power on September 11, 1973.
Definition
Political polarization
- Political polarization is the divergence of political attitudes toward ideological extremes. This growing divide creates an environment where cooperation and compromise are increasingly difficult, contributing to political dysfunction and societal unrest.
