Social conflict in Chile: State, market and democracy

Abstract

The recent social and political unrest in Chile relates to the exhaustion of the political boundaries established during the democratic transition. The continuous expansion of the privatization processes over the conditions for social reproduction, has created a situation of high uncertainty over the every day life of vast portions of society which, despite the economic growth, have to face a strong inequality, produced by extreme economic concentration and lack of opportunities. The boundaries of the political system – and the so far successful governing coalition – are overwhelmed by a social unrest which shelters the formation of new social and political actors. This bears the possibility of a transition to a new political period.