ABSTRACT
Chile is a long country, it is more than 4000 km from Arica in the North to the southernmost tip of the country. The early history of Chile's relations with its neighbours represents a valuable line of enquiry in the task to understanding the contemporary environment within which foreign policy is formed. A number of exogenous factors are also prominent in shaping Chilean foreign policy. With civilians back in power in 1990, governments around the world were more favourably disposed towards Chile. The process of democratization in Chile under Aylwin was one of the least successful in the region in terms of subordinating the armed forces to the civilian authorities. In terms of Chile's policy towards the international community, Manfred Wilhelmy and Maria Teresa Infante argue that the country, in the 1990s, was dealing with tangible economic themes. Historically, Chile's relations with its northern neighbours, Peru and Bolivia have been difficult. Chilean-Argentine relations have historically been difficult.
