Chile - culture and politics

As a life-long student of leadership, I can’t help diving into questions about how different countries and cultures view leadership when I travel. My recent first experience in traveling to Chile opened my mind to a beautiful country, people, and complicated history.

I traveled to Chile as the guest of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile as a speaker for the Latin American Summit on Education. I stayed for a full week in the old Bohemian section of Santiago – Barrio Lastarria – a convenient location to the Summit site and an amazing center for blending culture, food, art, and humanity.

Chile’s history includes indigenous peoples throughout the country. Chile is the longest country on Earth with a coastline that extends 4,270 km (2,653 miles). The Andes mountains separate it from Peru and Argentina who have contested the present land borders through numerous wars in the past. The beautiful natural area of Patagonia is at the far southern tip of the country.

The Spanish colonized Chile when Conquistadors pushed south from Peru in 1535. Valparaiso was founded in 1536 and Santiago was established in 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia. Valparaiso, a multicultural center with seaman from many countries and social origins is known as the city where “everyone has a window on the sea” because of how the houses cantilever out from the steep hillsides surrounding the bay (see picture to right). Valparaiso was a vibrant center of trade as ships rounded the tip of South American all the way until 1914 when the Panama Canal opened and left Valparaiso bereft of traffic.

The political history of Chile includes a long and stable history of presidential and then parliamentary rule. The end of the previous oligarchies came with the rise of more liberal and socialist forces over several decades, eventually resulting in the election of Salvador Allende in 1970. Allende delivered on his socialist campaign agenda and disenfranchised the economic elite of Chile, which then spurred the U.S.A.-backed military take-over by Augusto Pinochet in 1973. A statue of Allende still stands among the central government buildings of Santiago, a reminder of the socialist period and the subsequent vicious dictatorship of Pinochet. These years (1970-73 with Allende and 1973-89 with Pinochet) resulted in lasting ambivalence about the military, police, and the role of public dissent. One of the most revered intellectuals from this period is  Pablo Neruda whose home in Valparaiso (picture to left) I had the chance to visit.

One of the results of Spanish colonization is that 70% of Chileans are Catholic. There was no separation between the church and state until 1925. The separation in 1925 reflected the growing number of immigrants from many countries around the world, particularly from Europe and Palestine during and after WWII. Although the U.S.A. often portrays itself as one of the most diverse and inclusive countries in the world, the evidence of Chilean diversity is quite visible, even in terms of religion. The most notable contemporary symbol of religious inclusivity was the opening in 2016 of the Bahai Temple at the foot of the Andes (pictured here).

The Mapuche indigenous people (and other tribal groups) are important today. They have been traditionally marginalized and now protest and even threaten terrorist acts to make their dissatisfaction known. The Mapuche and others like them have been underserved and are now the lower socio-economic strata of Chilean society; these groups are part of the challenge for educators as well as business and governmental professionals who strive to have Chile engage as a 21^st century international economy.

Reflecting on the historical context and current conditions of Chile, a fascinating blend of issues comes into focus regarding how leadership is viewed and embraced: 1) lasting impact of colonialism that established a clear hierarchy but one that deserved to be questioned, 2) tight and lasting bonds of family and tribe, 3) practical embrace of other cultures/religions based on the necessity of finding solutions to broad problems, 4) ambivalence about authoritative leading – whether for socialism or any form of government, 5) fear of public dissent turning to violence and terrorism, 6) recognition of the need to take risks and support for those who do.

Discovering Chile was a revelation for me and one that I regret not pursuing long ago. Americans are increasingly traveling, conducting business, and pursuing educational exchange with Chile and other Latin American countries but the public conversation about building relations and capacity is neglected in comparison to other areas of the world. I intend to continue to study, learn, and deepen my appreciation for the country and people of Chile.