Recent Political Reforms in Chile: an Analysis of Political Protagonists and Practices

• In Event: Chile: From Pinera to Pinera: Elections, Policies and Social Movements

Abstract

This paper analyses how political actors in Chile evaluate the electoral reforms that have been undertaken since 2012, especially the electoral registration legislation, the funding of political parties and campaigns, transparency laws and the change in the electoral system. The paper examines how politics have changed in practice as a result of this legislation, especially as regards the informal institutions that have “oiled the political machine” since Chile’s transition to democracy, which is still characterized by transitional enclaves. It will review the reforms to then focus on the following questions: how do political actors at the national, regional and local level evaluate the political and institutional reforms? What impact have the reforms had on the government of Pinera, and on the quality of Chile’s democracy?

Authors

• Emmanuelle Barozet, Universidad de Chile

• Kirsten Sehnbruch, Universidad de Chile