Category Archives: Chile

RIP – Patricio Aylwin

Posted on April 19, 2016 by

Patricio Aylwin, the man who became the first democratically elected president of Chile after the end of the Pinochet regime in 1990, has died at the age of 97. As most people are, Aylwin was a complex figure. He had … Continue reading →

Posted in Chile, Deaths

Manuel Contreras, Head of Chile’s DINA, Dead at 86

Posted on August 8, 2015 by

Manuel Contreras, who headed the Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional (National Intelligence Directorate, or DINA) from 1973-1977, some of the most repressive years of Augusto Pinochet’s regime, has died at the age of 86. As head of DINA, Contreras was directly responsible for … Continue reading →

Posted in Augusto Pinochet, Chile, Deaths, Human Rights Violations, The "Disappeared", Torture

Chile-Peru Maritime Dispute Settled(?)

Posted on January 27, 2014 by

  Today, the World Court settled the issue of the maritime border of Chile and Peru, an issue going all the way back to the War of the Pacific in the late-19th century. Peru wanted the border extended, while Chile … Continue reading →

Posted in Border Issues, Chile, Latin American Economies, Peru

Around Latin America

Posted on September 11, 2013 by

-Yesterday, Chile marked the fortieth anniversary of the coup that overthrew democratically-elected president Salvador Allende and ushered in the 17-year military dictatorship that killed over 3000 people and tortured tens of thousands. Even while the date was commemorated, the search … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, Argentina's Military Dictatorship (1976-1983), Around Latin America, Augusto Pinochet, Brazil, Chile, Coups in Latin America, Cuba, Guatemala, Guatemala's Civil War, Guerrilla Movements in Latin America, Human Rights Violations, Indigenous Peoples, Labor in Latin America, Multinational Corporations in the Americas, Protests in Latin America, Racism, Strikes, The "Disappeared", Torture, United States

Around Latin America

Posted on August 25, 2013 by

-In spite of a recent attack that left 13 Colombian soldiers dead, peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC continue, in an attempt to end civil war and conflict that has lasted nearly 50 years and left tens … Continue reading →

Posted in Augusto Pinochet, Brazil, Chile, Civil Conflict in the Americas, Colombia, Corruption, Ecuador, Education in the Americas, Educational Reforms, El Salvador, Environmental Issues in the Americas, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionárias de Colombia (FARC), Futebol (Soccer), Human Rights Issues, Labor in Latin America, Legal Issues in Latin America, Mexico, National Parks, Oil in the Americas, Peru, Prisoners' Rights, Protests in Latin America, Social Movements, Sports in Latin America, Technology in the Americas, The Amazon, Women's Movements & Issues, Women's Rights

The Ongoing Legacies of the Pinochet Regime: 11-Year-Old Rape Victims as Mothers

Posted on July 10, 2013 by

In another episode of the impact of total bans on abortion in Latin America, an 11-year-old girl was raped by her mother’s partner repeatedly over the course of two years, finally resulting in a pregnancy that doctors say puts the life … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Augusto Pinochet, Chile, Gender and Sexuality, Women's Rights

Shorter Wall Street Journal: “We Love Governments that Murder Thousands of People”

Posted on July 5, 2013 by

In an editorial on the Egyptian military coup yesterday, the Wall Street Journal actually wrote the following: Egyptians would be lucky if their new ruling generals turn out to be in the mold of Chile’s Augusto Pinochet, who took power amid chaos … Continue reading →

Posted in Augusto Pinochet, Chile | 22 Comments

On Chilean Presidential Politics and Ongoing Ties to the Pinochet Era

Posted on July 2, 2013 by

As Brandi mentioned yesterday, the dust has settled in the Chilean presidential primaries. On the one hand, the Concertación elected Socialist Party candidate and former president (2006-2010) Michelle Bachelet to run for re-election for the coalition. On the other hand, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Augusto Pinochet, Chile, Democracy in the Americas, Educational Reforms, Elections in Latin America, Governance in Latin America, Latin American Politics, Legal Issues in Latin America, The "Left" in Latin America, The "Right" in Latin America

Chilean Presidential Primary Results are In

Posted on June 30, 2013 by

Chileans voted in the presidential primaries for the November 2013 elections, and the results are in. For the Nueva Mayoría (New Majority, a coalition of left and center-left parties): Michelle Bachelet Jeria (PS – Socialist Party)  73.05% (WINNER) Andrés Velasco … Continue reading →

Posted in Chile, Democracy in the Americas, Elections in Latin America, Latin America, Police Violence, Protests in Latin America, Social Movements, South America, Student Movements, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Beyond Brazil – Protests and Demonstrations Throughout Latin America

Posted on June 27, 2013 by

While ongoing protests in Brazil have (understandably) occupied a growing amount of space in recent days, Brazilians are not the only ones making their voices heard. In Chile, as the fight for educational reform approaches its third year, over 100,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Brazil, Chile, Corruption, Costa Rica, Development in Latin America, Education in the Americas, Educational Reforms, Governance in Latin America, Latin American Politics, Paraguay, Protests in Latin America