Cultivating Sacrifice, Forging the Nation-State: the police ‘military character’ within the Chilean Carabineros.

• In Event: POL Panel 18. Police identity, culture and change

Abstract

This work examines the concept of "military character" within the Chilean police, based on qualitative research conducted with serving and retired members of the national police, the "Carabineros". While existing literature often associates militarised policing in Latin America with the construction of internal enemies, authoritarian legacies, tactical changes and expanding firepower, this study adds some complexity to the picture. The research identifies the military character as a dominant element in the historical institutional identity of the Carabineros, emphasizing values of sacrifice and discipline. The Carabineros conceive of themselves as a powerful and efficient machine at the service of the state, mobilised through obedience, tenacity, dedication and even a stated willingness to die for the fatherland. Based on my ongoing doctoral research, this work aims to expand the understanding of the military imprint of police forces such as the Carabineros by examining the interplay between historical traditions and institutional narratives shaping police identity.

Author

• Pascual Cortes, LSE