Elite-Mass Congruence and Political Discontent in Chile

• In Event: Public Opinion, Policy Reform and Coalitional Dynamics in Chile: The Bachelet Government in Crisis

Abstract

Chile is often lauded for its successful democratic transition and high quality democracy. Nonetheless, increasingly the country’ traditional image as Latin America’s democratic poster child is being replaced by one of protest, conflict and corruption, suggesting for some that the country is experiencing a crisis of democracy. Student protests that began in 2006 have become a permanent fixture and discontent has spread from students to wide sectors of the Chilean population. Employing recently released data by Universidad Diego Portales and the Canadian International Development Research Center, this paper will analyze whether the discontent which currently characterizes Chile can be traced to a lack of congruence between elites and masses regarding the most significant problems and challenges facing the country.

Author

• Peter M Siavelis, Wake Forest University