Transition to a Modern State

Abstract

The victors of the Civil War established a self-styled parliamentary regime that lasted a little over 30 years. The central role of the nitrate industry during this period accounts for not only the relative stability of the regime, but also its decay and eventual collapse in 1924. Stability, however, was deceptive. Although presidents and members of the congress were regularly elected, the regime stubbornly refused to include the emerging middle and working classes into the political system. The political exclusion of the most dynamic social groups prompted sporadic, but effective public protests and the consequent use of strong law and order measures. It also brought about the emergence of a union movement hostile to state institutions and skeptical of political democracy. The malaise of the political regime was reflected in widespread vote buying and favoritism regarding appointments to the public service, the judiciary, and the army. The nitrate industry was also the main cause for the regime’s collapse. By the mid-1920s, nitrate revenue had become unstable, bringing about a breakdown in the political system. This was followed by nearly a decade of political and economic dislocation. The growth of nitrate industry was responsible for important social and economic transformations. It was accompanied by a major shift in population from the countryside to the cities.