ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the factors that shape grand strategy, focusing on the domestic political coalitions in contemporary Chile and on traditional threat perceptions that have influenced the current defense structure. The design of Chile's new grand strategy depends on its preexisting domestic political conditions, which have been influenced by the international environment. The historic importance of the regional neighborhood must be taken into consideration in shaping a new strategic vision. For Chile, the corporatist coalition and the democratic-modernizers must both play a role. The chapter examines the evolution of Chile's civil-military relationship during the democratic transition from both a political point of view and a professional standpoint. The negotiated transition and the pact on governability condition the nature of civil-military relations in democratic Chile. The chapter concludes by analyzing the external forces that play an important role in the shaping of the domestic agenda.
