Democracy And Poverty In Chile: The Limits To Electoral Politics (Series in Political Economy and Economic Development in Latin America) - Hardcover

Petras, James; Leiva, Fernando Ignacio; With *; Veltmeyer, Henry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813382173 ISBN 13: 9780813382173

Publisher: Westview Press, 1994

Synopsis

The critical issues concerning the development of a substantial and enduring democracy in Chile are those of strengthening civil society, democratizing the permanent institutions of the state, and building an economy geared to satisfy effectively satisfy human needs. In this book, the authors offer a critique of the Chilean transition and of the Aylwin electoral regime, analyzing the linkage between political compromises made prior to the civilian's assumption of power and the choice of socioeconomic policy in the post-electoral period. They argue that the decisive factor underlying the Chilean transition is the contrast between the legal-political changes and socioeconomic and institutional continuities, a contrast that perpetuates the vast inequalities of wealth and power generated under Pinochet's sixteen-year-old military dictatorship. They also challenge the myth of the “Chilean miracle''—the purported success of neoliberal policies in promoting sustained growth and social justice—and therefore in laying the basis for long-term social harmony and enduring political stability.

About this title

From the Back Cover

This book offers a critique of the Chilean transition of the Aylwin electoral regime, arguing that the contrast between the legal-political changes made under civilian rule and the socioeconomic and institutional continuities with the Pinochet regime has perpetuated vast inequalities in wealth and power.

About the Author

James Petras is professor of sociology at SUNY–Binghamton. He is the coauthor of Democracy and Poverty in Chile: The Limits to Electoral Politics (Westview, 1994).

About this edition

• Publisher: Westview Press
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0813382173
• ISBN 13: 9780813382173
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 215