The Search of an Elusive Consensus: Democracy, Dictatorship and “Apertura” in Chile, 1983–1986

Abstract

The protest movement in Chile, in reality an economic and a political movement united by common themes and grievances, went through three evolutionary phases between 1983 and 1986. Although somewhat different in their approaches to securing a return to democracy in Chile, the three phases were essentially unsuccessful, characterized by unduly optimistic opposition tactics, a resurgence of ideological division reminiscent of the pre-Pinochet era, and a flexibility and resiliency on the government side unanticipated by the opposition. “Apertura” and cabinet changes bought a divided government time and settled a number of major economic and financial grievances among the economic right. The failure to forge an opposition consensus on common goals and a transitional timetable, in part a product of leadership difficulties, ideological differences, historic mistrust and a focus on short-term measures, helped contribute to a recovery by Pinochet by the end of 1986. The failure of the opposition, in turn, meant that the constitutional time-table would be planned and implemented by the government in accordance with the constitution of 1980.