Chilean Democratic Socialism: Allende, US Relations, and Coup

This essay delves into the historical context of Chilean Democratic Socialism, examining the presidency of Salvador Allende from 1970 to 1973. It explores Allende's socialist policies, including the nationalization of industries and social welfare programs, and their impact on the United States. The essay highlights the US's opposition to Allende's government, driven by Cold War anxieties and the fear of Marxism, and details the CIA's involvement in destabilization efforts, including attempts to orchestrate a coup. The essay further analyzes the economic and political pressures that culminated in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, leading to Allende's death and the end of his socialist project. The analysis covers key events, the role of political parties, and the impact of US foreign policy on the Chilean political landscape, ultimately concluding that US actions and opposition forces contributed to the downfall of Allende's government.

Running head: CHILEAN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM
Chilean Democratic Socialism
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Chile is a country which is known to have a long and significant historical past. The
country has had a number of times the Government had changed in the country itself. The
country had a peaceful Government under the rule of Salvador Allende, which was the
President of the country form the years 1970 to 1973 itself. He always promoted the concept
of the concept of the socialism and peaceful elections in the country. However, the
accusations of unlawful government against him had led to the decline of the Allende
Government in the country itself. Many experts are of the opinion that the U.S.A and the
C.I.A are responsible to an extent for the decline of the Allende Government itself. As a
result of this, the Government of Allende had come to an end in the country itself. This is
what the readers will discuss in the essay itself.
The purpose of this essay is to describe the road to the Chilean Democracy under
the Government of Salvador Allende and find out the U.S. reacted to such forms of
Government.
Salvador Allende was known to be a type of President who had always preferred the
elections to be of a peaceful nature itself. He was a promoter of socialism and was the first
Marxist supporter to be organized the President of a liberal democracy in the country of Chile
itself. He won the elections of the country with a plurality of 36.2% of the votes casted in his
support by the members of the Communist Party of Chile. He was elected the President of the
country after winning the elections form the support of the members of The Unidad Popular
coalition in the country of Chile itself (Navia et. all, 2018).
Allende during his reign in his office as the President of the country of Chile itself,
was said to run a policy in the country called the “La via Chilena al socialism”, which is also
known among the historians and the scholars as the “The Chilean Way to Socialism”. He
included to have a number of policies as well as the ruled and the regulations in the country

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of Chile itself. These policies included first of all, the nationalization of a large-scale
industries itself, as well as the improvement of the healthcare systems in the country itself.
The other features which were a part of the socialism policy of the Allende Government are
the programs of land distribution among the people of the country itself, providing free milk
for the children of the country as well as providing them with free education, all of the plans
which were continued from the policies of his predecessor Eduardo Frei Montalva, who had
actually made all these policies himself (Allende, 1976).
It must be noticed that at this time, the primary form of business for the U.S. in the
country of Chile at that time was copper mining itself, as the copper was one of the most
profitable products in the country of The United States of America itself. It was during this
time that Allende had nationalized all the copper mines in the country of Chile itself. This
causes difficulties for the U.S. in conducting the businesses of the copper mines in the
country itself.
However, the other policies which were made by the Government of Salvador
Allende included the issues of holding the copper mines and the other mineral mines of the
country responsible for the damages which had occurred in the country at the time of the
copper and the other mining business in the country itself. Allende also had a significant
restructure of the economic program organised in the country itself. However, many
historians and experts are of the opinion that the Allende was in haste to restructure the
economy of the country because of the ruling terms of the Presidents of the Chilean
Government itself. In addition to this, the landowners and the other business merchants in the
country itself (Navia, 2016).
Although the policies of Allende were said to be rightful and was mainly intended at
building a socialism form of Government in the country itself, the policies also had received

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oppositions not only from the country of The United States of America itself but also from
the other political parties in the country of Chile itself. These political parties opposed the
claims which were made by Salvador Allende himself because of the fact that the President
of the country himself was a democrat and on top of that he wanted to build a Government on
the basis of the concepts of socialism, which was not much liked by the people belonging to
the other political parties in the country of the United States of America.
In this context, it can be said that the policy of The United States to oppose the
policies of Allende in the country of Chile had started a long before he became the President
of the country itself (Navia et. all, 2007). This is because of the fact that the U.S. always had
a strong opposition to the concept of Marxism and was always motivated for the destruction
of Marxism in the country itself. Hence, it is only natural in this case that the Government of
President Richard Nixon would aim for the removal of the power of Salvador Allende in the
country of Chile itself. The C.I.A., as per the instructions received form the Government of
The United States of America itself, had attempted the kidnapping and murder of Chilean
army commander Rene Schneider in the year 1970. In addition to this the C.I. A. also had
been providing a number of armaments and other equipment in the country itself for the
purpose of setting up of a military coup in the country itself. Although this had resulted in the
death in the military commander of the base at that time by the name of Rene Schneider
(Oppenheim, 2018).
In addition to this policy, the U.S. reduced the economic aid that it was providing to
the country of Chile as a result of President Salvador Allende being in the control of the
Government of the country itself. In addition to this, the country removed all forms of
military coups in the country itself due to the outrage started in the country due to the death
of the military leader Rene Schneider itself. In addition to this, the country saw the protests
against the Government of Salvador Allende in the country in the month of October 1972,

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which were openly support3d by the then President of The United States named Richard
Nixon himself. These protests in the country were soon joined by other groups including
businessmen, unions as well as some student groups themselves. The protest against the
Government of Salvador Allende had reached to such a stage that it had resulted in a strike
declared by the Confederacion Nacionale Del Transporte, protesting the policies of the
Government under the Presidency of Salvador Allende himself.
It was during this time itself that there was a resolution in the country itself which
stated the fact that the Government of Salvador Allende was not right for the people of the
country itself. It was also during this time that the opposition parties of the Government had
called for the action of the removal of the Allende Government itself (Allende et. all, 1976).
The accusations of the Government was also made on the basis of the idea that the
Government of Salvador Allende always had aimed for the separation of power in the country
itself. Hence, it can be said that the opposition in the country of Chile itself got the support of
the country of The United States of America as a result of which the protest against the
Allende Government grew in number itself.
Despite all these accusations which were made against the Government of Salvador
Allende himself, it can be stated that the President of the country himself was courageous
enough to respond to his critics his measures which he had made for himself. In the defence
of the criticisms to his policies, the President made the claims that the form of Government
which the country of Chile had made at that time was the result of the Government of the
people and was not applicable any of the accusations which were made by the opposition
parties against the Government itself. This accusation of the President was directed against
the other political parties in the sense that they had preached the principles of sedition against
the people of the country and his Government itself (Oppenheim, 2018). It can be said in this

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matter that Salvador Allende had to protect the country of Chile form The United States of
America itself.
However, the accusations against the Government of Salvador Allende continued to
grow in the country as a result of which the people of the country gradually begun to grow
disillusioned against the Government of Salvador Allende himself. This all ultimately
culminated in the 1973 Chilean coup d’état, also known as the final coup during which the
country of Chile got attacked by the coup which was led by General Augusto Pinochet
(Oppenheim, 2018). It was said that during the bombing of the Presidential Palace by the air
force belonging to the Chilean army itself, President Allende tried to mount a small resistance
against the invaders to the Government itself, which ultimately led to the failure (Dorfman et.
all, 2016). As a result of being unable to defend his country form the invaders themselves, it
can be said that President Allende committed suicide, although some experts are also of the
opinion that the President had been murdered by an intruder in his own army. This ended the
chapter of the rule of Salvador Allende in Chile, also known to the readers as the Presidential
Republic era of Chile itself.
The main reasons why The United States were opposed to the Government of
Salvador Allende is because of the fact that he was a communist himself. Allende was a
follower of Marxism, which was not liked by the United States and President Nixon himself.
As it is commonly known to the students that the main aim of The United States was the
destruction of communism, it can be said that this was the main reason which led to the
downfall of the Allende Government in the country (Allende et. all, 1976).
Thus, from the above paragraphs, it can be concluded that the Chilean road to
socialism is indeed one which had seen many important events taking place in the era itself.
Therefore, it can be said regarding this issue that the opposition forces of The United States

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and CIA in the country had led to the downfall of the Salvador Government in the country
itself. This is the reason why the Chilean road to socialism is considered to be an important
part in the history of the country itself.
Reference List
Allende, S., Garcés, J.E., Birns, L., Sweezy, P.M., Magdoff, H. and Petras, J., 1976. Chile's
road to socialism.
Dorfman, A., Allende, S. and Castro, F., 2016. Chile: The other September 11: An anthology
of reflections on the 1973 coup. Ocean Press.
Hove, M.T., 2007. The Arbenz Factor: Salvador Allende, US-Chilean Relations, and the
1954 US Intervention in Guatemala. Diplomatic History, 31(4), pp.623-663.
Navia, P. and Osorio, R., 2017. ‘Make the Economy Scream’? Economic, Ideological and
Social Determinants of Support for Salvador Allende in Chile, 1970–3. Journal of Latin
American Studies, 49(4), pp.771-797.
Oppenheim, L., 2018. Politics in Chile: Democracy, authoritarianism, and the search for
development. Routledge.
Oppenheim, L.H., 1989. The Chilean road to socialism revisited.

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Winn, P., 2005. Salvador Allende: His political life… and afterlife. Socialism and
Democracy, 19(3), pp.129-159.