2. Argentina Vs. Chile: Delegative or Constitutional Democracy? Maxwell A. Cameron UBC Poli 332

3. Argentina Pop 40 million 1/3rd size of US 0 migrants per 1000 97% white 97% literate GNP $585 billion Per capita $14,500 Gini index.49 Debt $135 billion (51% GDP)

4. Chile Pop 16 million Smaller than BC 4% Mapuche 96% literate GNP $250 billion Per capita $15,400 Gini index.55 Debt $64 billion

5. Argentina has many advantages Few mines, peasants (not an enclave or plantation economy) Abundant land, “estancias” (ranches) –Hence less need for labor repression Independence process less destructive than elsewhere Not a major colonial center until after 1776 (when it became a viceroyalty) Wealthy bourgeoisie (“Pampa bourgeoisie”) that produced cereal, wool, beef Homogeneous population, large immigration from Europe

6. Yet a troubled History Ruthless caudillos in the 19th century Collapse of oligarchic state and rise of Radicals threatens elite interests Military response and rise of Peronism in 1940s and 1950s Military coups in 1960s and 1970s: bureaucratic authoritarianism Democratic transition followed by neoliberalism delegative democracy under Menem Financial chaos in 2001, rise of Kirchners

7. Challenges Unfulfilled Transform pampa bourgeoisie into a modern agro-exporting capitalist class Incorporate labor and solve the “social question” on the basis of constitutional representative democracy Elite consensus on democratic system

8. Argentine Peculiarities No peasantry - implications for class alliances Early industrialization, extensive immigration and labor militancy Volatile prices - implications for investment In short: no stable basis of domination, shifting alliances (populist alliance, reactionary alliance)

9. Peronism and Its Legacies Fears of organized labor Military coup of 1930 ousts Yrigoyen Peron, secretary of labor, then elected ISI strategy and labor incorporation Ousted in 1955 Frondizi’s impossible game BA coups in 1966, 1976 Dirty War and defeat in the Falklands/Malvinas

10. Menem and the Reinvention of Peronism After Alfonsin: trials, debt, and hyperinflation Menem emerges in 1989 with neoliberal strategy Growth, stability … then collapse in 2001 Riots, piqueteros, “que se vayan todos” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm97EeqKzsc

11. Emergence of Kirchners, Nestor and Cristina Return to a heterodox strategy Classic populist politics Human rights trials Problems with farmers

12. Is Chile a ‘Success’ Story? Distant realm of Spanish empire Relatively homogeneous population Brief period of anarchy after independence Strong democratic institutions Sustained economic growth And yet: high inequality and incomplete democracy (authoritarian enclaves) Chile is a country that experienced a high level of polarization in its politics

13. Polarization Mining economy - struggles over natural resources –Silver, copper, nitrates Tradition of labor militancy –Especially around mining enclaves Workers native born –Unlike in Argentina’s massive immigration Strong socialist tradition within a strong democratic context

14. Chile’s History of Polarization Chile has a strong and long-standing democratic tradition, but… Within context of orderly rule, a struggle between president versus parliament in 19th century 20th Century social question: Fear among oligarchs leads to pattern of reform and reaction, but mostly within the constitutional order

15. Challenges Overcoming centrifugal competition Building a durable political centre Radicalization of democracy Competitive elections (with 3 tendencies) Parties forced into coalitions Highly democratic (presidential) system

16. Allende’s (1970-73) Significance Failure of reforms under Christian Democrats Allende wins with 36 percent of vote The “democratic road” to socialism Populist economics Nationalization of copper and other foreign firms US destabilization - role of Nixon/Kissenger Coup in 1973 - most violent in Latin America

17. Pinochet Regime (1973-1990) Highly repressive - response to level of threat perception Forerunner of neoliberalism (Chicago Boys) Not a BA regime, but not personalist either Legal dilemmas: defender of the constitution or violator? 1980 constitution 1989 plebiscite

18. Concertacion (1990-2010) Alliance of Christian Democrats and Socialists (exclusion of Communists) Neoliberal economy Binomial electoral system Symptoms of malaise: apathy, lack of party- society linkages Does Chile need a “constitutional moment”? Aylwin 1990-94 Frei 1994-2000 Lagos 2000-06 Bachelet 2006-10 Piñera 2010-

19. Latin America’s Two Lefts Nestor & Cristina Kirchner vs. Michelle Bachelet Populism versus social democracy? Governments of the left reflect countries in which they emerge Argentina: lack of stable domination by Pampa bourgeoisie, weak state institutions, populism and anti-populism Chile: high level of polarization, strong state institutions, influence of radical but democratic socialism, post-Pinochet depoliticization