Liberal economy, limited democracy: The case of Chile

This is a sociological study about the political constitution drafted in 1980 in the Republic of Chile by its military junta that was intended to "protect" democracy through authoritarianism. Each section of the study begins by summarizing the international ideological context in which Chilean social action took place before looking at Chilean political economy under its three constitutions of 1833, 1925 and 1980. While this study is focused on the particular case of Chile, it hopes to make a broader contribution to historical-comparative sociology by demonstrating how Chile's constitutional contract changed in an effort to create a rules framework to mediate social relations by using a multi-polar political-economy approach. In this respect we hope to gain understanding about the fundamental nature of liberalism as an organizing concept and in contrast to competing paradigms. While the attention of historical-comparative sociology is traditionally focused upon large-scale structures, this study focuses its attention on large-scale ideas about structures. In 1982 Milton Friedman wrote: "Only a crisis---actual or perceived---produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around."1 This study identifies the myriad of ideas about politics and economics that were "lying around" Chile in the 1970's and 1980's, to tease out where those ideas came from, to follow what happened to them, and, most importantly, to learn of their influence upon the everyday life of everyday people even today. 1 Milton Friedman with the assistance of Rose D. Friedman.Capitalism and Freedom. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1982. p. ix.