Between Force and Law: The Early Years of the Pinochet Regime

For 17 years, the authoritarian regime of General Augusto Pinochet ruled over Chile. My research explores the first two years of the dictatorship as a critical period for understanding contemporary Chilean politics and society. From 1973-1975, the regime sought to legitimize is violent repression of political dissidents through nuanced manipulations of the country’s legal structures. This strategy demonstrated the ways in which the Pinochet years embodied the potential coexistence of authoritarian objectives and democratic and constitutionalist ideals. As a result, the country’s political system continues to function today as a protected democracy