Political Science

Development and collective action in Chile's neoliberal democracy

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This paper argues that structural and institutional reforms imposed by the military regime and accepted by the Concertación impose substantial impediments to collective action among Chile's popular sectors. In particular, labor market and social welfare policies exacerbate social stratification, deprive the public of vital resources, reinforce workers' vulnerability to market forces and undermine social trust. These dynamics and the state structures that perpetuate them indicate the state's role in either facilitating or impeding collective action among subordinate segments of the population. They further suggest the negative impact neoliberalism has on the quality of democracy by constraining popular participation. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Political Power and Social Theory

Publication Date

2007

Volume

18

First Page

85

Last Page

129

ISSN

0198-8719

ISBN

9780762313402

DOI

10.1016/S0198-8719(06)18003-5

Keywords

Chile, collective action, Latin American politics, neoliberalism, democracy

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