And don't omit the $8 million that the U.S. spent--in part, thru the CIA, for the
trucker's strike and other mischief. Remember Kissinger's comment that if the
Chilean people were so "irresponsible" as to choose a socialist government in a
free election, appropriate measures would have to be taken?
Joel Blau
Michael Hoover wrote:
> > if the working class is well organized and class conscious (as in
> > Chile in 1970), not only may the legislature but the executive may be
> > subordinated to non-bourgeois forces.
> > The problem, of course, is that in the Chilean case, the repressive
> > component of the state (the armed forces) stepped in to suppressed the
> > democratic component -- aided and abetted by the US and US-based
> > multinational corporations -- so that capitalism and the international
> > relationships of domination could be restored to their "normal" status. In
> > the situation of Chile in 1973, either capitalism was going to be preserved
> > by military force or there had to be a socialist break from capitalism.
> > Jim Devine
>
> Chilean constitution called for presidential selection by legislature
> if no electoral majority occurred. Constitutional transfer of power
> took place in which Allende agreed to leave military & bureaucracy
> intact. Popular Unity (UP) controlled only 36% of congressional
> seats and had no appointments on Constitutional Court. Thus, many
> disposed to preventing fundamental changes were situated in official
> positions, often outside public accountability. Possession of limited
> formal power was heavily outweighed by opposition control of key
> economic, military, political sectors. Plus, opposition forces
> controlled mass media and used it for purposes of political sabotage.
>
> Reproduction of capitalist relations was threatened in Chile in early
> 1970s and context in which Allende government operated was historic -
> concrete example of test of peaceful transition to socialism.
> Fundamental contradiction within UP was between its stated intention -
> abolishing capitalism - and adherence to constitutional means. Thus,
> UP was not only restricted by power of opposition, it was limited by
> its own character. Coalition contained several elements not
> committed to working-class socialism and standard bearers - Socialists
> and Communists - had long accepted constitutional path to socialism.
> These factors limites popular mobilization, created conflict,
> prevented development of alternative strategies for seizing state
> power, and bought time for opposition. Michael Hoover
