When students learn Spanish in Chile, they typically get some exposure to the current politics of the region during their stay. As a result, it makes sense to have some knowledge of recent history so that you can participate in some of these discussions in a knowledgeable manner. After all, if you show up to Spanish immersion school in Santiago completely aware of the modern political situation, you will be putting yourself at a major disadvantage when it comes to your cultural immersion.
In recent history, the Pinochet regime is important to understand. In 1973, the country’s economy was in dire straits and the GDP was falling quickly. Inflation rose about 800% when Senator Salvador Allende Gossens was president. Allende came to power in 1970 was a member of the country’s Socialist Party. After Allende was removed from power by a military coup, a military government took over. The Commander of the Army, Augusto Pinochet led this regime. He made himself the new head of a junta.
Immediately, after Pinochet came to power, there were human rights violations under his control. For example, the Caravan of Death killed about 70 people in 1973. Ultimately, thousands of people were killed while he was in power up until 1990. Many people also simply left the country. According to estimates, about 30,000 people decided to move elsewhere. There were also over 2000 cases of people who simply “disappeared” during this time period, and studies have shown that at least 30,000 people were tortured. To good news is that by the late 1980’s, things weren’t quite as dire, as the government began to allow freedom of speech and assembly as well as market reforms. By a 56% to 44% vote, Pinochet did not receive power again in 1988.
