ABSTRACT

Chilean party politics has stimulated many contrasting interpretations. Chile's economic development was capitalistic. Chile has maintained a tradition of political experimentation since its independence. The ideological distinctions in Chilean politics coexist with strongly personalistic elements. Chilean politics might seem to have been one of the most "pluralistic" in Latin America, measured by the diversity and multiplicity of political interests encompassed in the party competition. The Chilean electoral system has undergone many changes, historically, particularly ones affecting enfranchisement and party representation. If the scheduled presidential and congressional elections are held in 1989, it is clear that one result will be a restructured party system in Chile. There have been extensive studies of Chilean elections, voting behavior, and public opinion. Voting studies and public opinion surveys tend to confirm that, notwithstanding the apparent "shift to the left" in Chilean party politics to 1973, there was little change in either public opinion or in voting trends.