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This book is a comprehensive analysis of Chile's political and economic evolution, particularly focusing on the challenges of constitutional reform and systemic overhaul in emerging democracies. It explores themes of neoliberalism, governance, and reform under instability, using Chile as a case study to illuminate the broader implications for countries in the Global South. Drawing on institutional theory, political economy, original data, and comparative analysis, it unpacks the roots of Chile s crisis: party system fragmentation, voter party erosion, rupturist rhetoric, and elite misdiagnoses. It is relevant to scholars, policymakers, and risk analysts seeking to understand the complexities of democratic transitions, offering lessons on balancing the rewards of change with the risks of instability. At its core, the book sets out to solve the problem of how to effectively implement constitutional and systemic reforms in a way that promotes stability, equity, and long-term success.
List of contents
Chapter 1 From stability to upheavel.- Chapter 2 The 1980 Constitution.- Chapter Neoliberalism Problem or solution .- Chapter 4 Two decades of stability.- Chapter 5 The paradox of progress.- Chapter 6 A shifting political system.- Chapter 7 The erosion of voter party linkages and representation backsliding.- Chapter 8 Emergence of a rupturist discourse.- Chapter 9 October 18, 2019.- Chapter 10 The constitutional design.- Chapter 11 The rise of Gabriel Boric.- Chapter 12 The first constitutional convention.- Chapter 13 Understanding rejection Why the first constitutional process failed.- Chapter 14 Constitutional resurrection.- Chapter 15 From instability to realignment.- Chapter 16 The second constitutional council.- Chapter 17 Coming to terms Why the second constitutional process failed.- Chapter 18 Looking back on four years of upheavel.- Chapter 19 Chile s reckoning and the limits of transformation.
About the author
Kenneth Bunker is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics and Director of the Democracy and Government Lab at San Sebastian University in Chile. He has held visiting positions at the University of Rome and Milan and is currently affiliated with the University of Verona in Italy. He runs the political consulting firm Tresquintos.
Summary
This book is a comprehensive analysis of Chile's political and economic evolution, particularly focusing on the challenges of constitutional reform and systemic overhaul in emerging democracies. It explores themes of neoliberalism, governance, and reform under instability, using Chile as a case study to illuminate the broader implications for countries in the Global South. Drawing on institutional theory, political economy, original data, and comparative analysis, it unpacks the roots of Chile’s crisis: party system fragmentation, voter–party erosion, rupturist rhetoric, and elite misdiagnoses. It is relevant to scholars, policymakers, and risk analysts seeking to understand the complexities of democratic transitions, offering lessons on balancing the rewards of change with the risks of instability. At its core, the book sets out to solve the problem of how to effectively implement constitutional and systemic reforms in a way that promotes stability, equity, and long-term success.
