Chilean - German bilateral relations and their historical preconditions

This thesis examines the evolution and particulars of Chilean-German Bilateral Relations stressing the crucial periods in their history. Both these such different and far-distant countries are linked to each other with network of current and traditional ties. Nowadays, Federal Republic of Germany is Chile's major trade partner within EU. Although German immigration in Chile was relatively small in numbers, Chilean Germans subsequently managed to establish respected position and notably contributed to building-up this South American country in various fields. A positive reception of Chilean Germans' and/or Germany's influence was also reflected in this country's approach towards Germany during turbulent 20th century. The paper offers a qualitative historical overview of the official bilateral relations of Germany to one of its closest partners in the region. The relation is studied from several various perspectives (German-Chilean community, Chilean state authorities and government, foreign policy of FRG and GDR). In order to provide a more complex understanding of general context the issues are explained within wider frame of Chilean, German and Latin American modern history. Furthermore, a character of bilateral relations between Chile in democratic transition and unified Germany after 1990 is..