Local Governments and Regime Change

This chapter explores the history of local governments in Chile, focusing on the periods before, during, and after the Pinochet dictatorship. The chapter begins by detailing the political context, highlighting the tensions surrounding the idea of local autonomy and the role of local governments before the 1973 coup. The analysis then shifts to the Pinochet regime, describing how the military junta abolished local elections, appointed mayors to be trusted, and used local governments to maintain political control and implement the regime’s policies. The chapter also investigates the transition to democracy, emphasizing the challenges in democratizing local governments and the significant influence of dictatorship-appointed mayors in the new democratic period. The chapter concludes by discussing unique aspects of the Chilean case and by offering an overview of the contemporary challenges that local governments face, such as the need for ongoing reforms to enhance accountability and transparency. From a historical and political economy perspective, it underscores the importance of local governments in the context of regime change.