Spring Is Coming for Chile

There are few people these days who care much about the geopolitics of decades past. They see little to no importance in it and emphasis is instead, rightfully, placed on the here and now. But the past has many lessons it can bequeath to us, it holds secrets that have only recently been unveiled by the passing of time.

There is a famous quote from Chilean socialist, Pablo Neruda - "You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming". You may have seen this recently used by the Labour Party under the direction of Jeremy Corbyn.

The dream of a democratic socialism, a socialism that is not revolutionary but enacted by currently existing legal and democratic means, was finally realised in Chile in 1970. Despite an opposition that was funded and supported by the US, Salvador Allende and the Popular Unity party was elected to power by the people of Chile. They immediately set about a program of reform - nationalising the commanding heights of the economy including copper reserves and the banking sector, seizing and redistributing land to the workers, improving the socio-economic circumstances of the poorest, the building of mass housing and new education programs.

Wages during this early period rose by 22.3% whilst inflation fell from 36% to 22.1%. Minimum wages were increased by 56% during the first quarter of 1971. There were even plans to replace the anarchy of markets with an ambitious technological project called Cybersyn which would've assisted in planning the economy.

However, this progress was to be short-lived.

On September 11th 1973, the Chilean military under the orders of Augusto Pinochet, aided and abetted by the United States and CIA, staged a coup. Britain also played its role in protecting and legitimising the coup. Salvador Allende, among thousands of others, was brutally murdered. Murdered for simply partaking in democracy and wanting the best for the workers of Chile. Many Chilean comrades were 'disappeared'. Few others were lucky enough to be taken in and hidden by socialist groups and communist parties around the world.

These are Allende's final words:

"Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks to prevail. Keep in mind that, much sooner than later, the great avenues will again be opened through which will pass free men to construct a better society. 

Long live Chile!"

Chile became the staging ground for what was later more commonly known as neoliberalism. A form of capitalism with deregulated financial markets, state backing, and a free ticket to privatise whatever could turn a profit. Thatcher would later destroy the industrial fabric of the UK with these policies causing national turmoil that has lasted decades.

After years of mass protests and civil disobedience, and 48 years after the Pinochet-CIA coup, the Chilean people won the right to rewrite the constitution of Chile. A referendum returned a 78.28% vote in favour of a new constitution. The assembly for this task was elected in May 2021 and has started to meet regularly.

Since then, a general election has taken place. Gabriel Boric of the Social Convergence Party and backed by the Communist Party of Chile, has won 55.87% of the vote. A left-wing, socialist government primed for social and economic change is now once again leading the nation.

During his campaign, Boric said, "If Chile was the cradle of neoliberalism, it will also be its grave".

The lesson is thus:

As long as there are seeds, there will always be flowers. As long as the Earth turns, there will always be a Spring. 

And Spring, you might say, is now just around the corner.

Neoliberalismo nunca mas!