How did the Pinochet dictatorship affect the development of democracy in Chile?
The experience with dictatorship in Chile was horrible. It effectively ended over 100 years of democratic rule. It shattered peoples’ lives and resulted in thousands of deaths and disappearances, with even a greater number of people going into exile. The aftermath has been a double-edged sword. The country is profoundly divided, yet among the coalition of parties governing Chile, the dictatorship has provided a tremendous solidarity that has allowed them to avoid conflict and govern successfully. The desire to prevent a recurrence of the horrible experience with dictatorship is powerful glue that keeps the coalition together. Chile elected its first female president, Michelle Bachelet in 2006. How significant was this? Bachelet was the first woman with no connection to a prominent male relative to be elected president in all of Latin America. In addition, she is a Socialist, an avowed agnostic, and a divorced single mother with children from more than one father. She was elected with a
