The dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990 left an enduring scar on Chile, a nation once celebrated for its culture and development in Latin America. It was born from a counter-coup against Salvador Allende and became a blueprint for a radical liberal project that sought to reshape the country along market-driven lines. In 1980, Chile became the world’s first nation to implement a privately managed social security system, where individuals were required to fund their own retirement accounts. The intention was to build a capital pool capable of supporting each retiree, managed by private entities with the necessary resources to secure future security for citizens. This reform was a bold experiment in privatization that rippled beyond Chilean borders and inspired imitators across several other countries. Yet the outcome for retirees proved largely disappointing, as many older people found themselves facing poverty or precarious income in their later years.
The chapter that followed did not merely rework pensions; it reflected a broader political design. The 1980 Pinochet Constitution enshrined a minimal state that relegated much public service delivery to the private sector and constrained the state’s ability to implement redistributive policies or counter cyclical measures during economic crises. Even though Chile developed a highly efficient production system, the social fabric remained insufficient to meet the basic needs of many citizens. The result was a mismatch between economic performance and social protection, creating tensions that would resurface in later decades.
In October 2019, Santiago witnessed some of the largest protests in its history, erupting from a history of discontent that dated back to the earlier era. The violence began with student actions and expanded to include workers from diverse sectors, as the capital’s metro system was damaged in acts of resistance. President Sebastian Piñera, at the time a symbol of financial achievement, faced an unexpected and sweeping challenge to his authority. He declared a state of emergency and imposed curfews as clashes intensified, leaving thousands affected and dozens dead. The scale of public anger prompted millions to take to the streets on subsequent days, forcing negotiators to seek a path toward social rebuilding.
That social energy culminated in the Social Peace Agreement and the decision to pursue a new constitutional framework. A dual referendum in October 2020 asked voters whether a new constitution should be drafted and which type of constituent body should write it. The result favored a mixed model, combining representatives from a new assembly with existing members of Congress. In May 2021, 155 new representatives were elected, many newcomers with little familiarity with traditional party structures and a strong current of progressive and populist sentiment. By December 2021, Chile elected Gabriel Boric, a former student leader, as part of a movement aligned with the broader reformist impulse driving the charter. His leadership signaled a shift from activism toward a governance agenda aimed at balancing change with stability.
As the process continued, discussions around the constitution evolved into a wider debate about Chile’s identity. Critics argued that the draft offered a comprehensive and sometimes unwieldy document, with hundreds of articles and numerous transitional provisions that could complicate governance. Yet supporters highlighted its commitments to gender equality, indigenous rights, and social inclusion, asserting that the charter reflected a more modern understanding of citizenship in a diverse and multicultural society. The proposal also embedded a vision of Chile as an environmentally aware, regional, and intercultural state that recognizes the special status of minority groups while ensuring broad access to public services.
With Boric steering the political conversation, the path ahead for Chile was framed as a crossroads between radical transformation and the risk of stalling reforms. The new leadership emphasized moderation as a key requirement for sustainable progress, warning that abrupt shifts could undermine the gains sought by generations of social movements. The political landscape remained volatile, with the sense that the 2019–2021 mobilizations had created a rare window of opportunity to reimagine Chile’s constitutional order, the welfare state, and the balance between public and private sectors. The nation’s democracy would be tested as it navigated the tension between ambitious ideals and practical governance, underscoring what many observers consider a final chance to advance a resilient, inclusive political system.