Neoliberalism, Democracy, and the Transformation of State-Society Relations in Argentina

Abstract

The preceding analysis articulates the connections among the transformation of the Chilean state’s linkage to civil society, the recasting of its political institutions and economic and social policy, and the structure of political opportunity confronting the popular sectors. It argues that market-oriented reform in Chile, implemented by the military regime and perpetuated by democratically elected governments, imposes substantial impediments to collective action among Chile’s popular sectors. The constraint of popular participation, in turn, compromises political representation and accountability and thus indicates the negative impact neo-liberalism has on the quality of Chilean democracy.