Chile-A Democracy with Semi-autonomous Armed Forces: A History of Civil-Military Relations Since 1990

Freer J.B.; Aravena F.R. · Latin American Military and Politics in the Twenty-First Century: A Cross-National Analysis (2022) · DOI: 10.4324/9781003164784-4

Resumen

This chapter examines the evolution of the Chilean armed forces, particularly since the end of the Cold War. It is a combination between the history of the armed forces’ constitutionalism and subordination to the civil authorities, on the one hand, and the uninterrupted autonomy that the military top brass has enjoyed since the transition, on the other. This chapter analyses the characteristics of the evolution of civil-military relations from before the 1973 coup d’état, through the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, and into the long and onerous democratic transition. Throughout the latter period, much progress was made to put an end to the armed forces’ last prerogatives. Afterwards, an analysis is performed on the reforms of the last decade and its current shortcomings. Lastly, several preliminary solutions to the current tensions in the wake of the social protests in 2019 and the pandemic will be proposed. Although the military are currently edgy about accepting civil control, they want to avoid offering the same image as in the 1970s and the 1980s. It can thus be concluded that the semi-autonomous character of the branches of the armed forces is a reality, despite their pretention of being obedient and impartial.