The social outbreak of October 19 in Santiago has at least two sides that we must take into account. The first is that, according to different analysts, this is the result of a general malaise and frustration resulting from a series of structural factors The privatization of health, pensions, education and natural resources, among others, have been a source of anger for a long time. This is not new, but since the return of democracy, although in some cases they have sought to remedy some deficits with the creation of the Pilar Solidario (2008) under the first government of President Bachelet. However, these are measures that have basically sought to alleviate the effects of neoliberalism, but have not addressed the underlying issue. Just to illustrate the analysis, we will briefly review two issues of social concern and frustration.
The first is the pension system created in 1982. under the Military Dictatorship, which to date has not met the expectations it promised and that it is a model that is not capable of delivering “decent pensions.” In fact, according to press sources, “80% of people in Chile receive pensions that are less than the minimum wage.”[1]This has given rise to the creation of a movement around NO + APF that has denounced the pension system as one that only enriches the administrators and their operators and impoverishes the majority of the population.
Other sensitive issue is health, people who belong to the public system must wait a long time, for example, to see a specialist. Consulting in the private system can be up to 10 times more expensive, taking into account, in addition, that in Chile you usually pay twice, once for the diagnosis and then for the analysis of results. In the north of Chile we have seen how the inhabitants of Arica and northern cities seek health in Tacna where a consultation with a specialist can cost U$5. Unlike what happens in most of the country, people access it on the same day and with a diagnosis and medicines.[2]The latter are much cheaper than in Chilean pharmacies. However, this is a regional peculiarity that is not found in other parts of Chile.
Another element announced at the beginning is the political management of the situationThe “vandalism” of the outbreak since the government’s speech and President Piñera’s declaration that “we are at war” has only served to increase the annoyance and spread it to all corners of the country. Most parties have condemned the destruction and vandalism and in many parts of Chile we have seen how citizens confront those who take advantage of the moment to steal. Now we can only hope that sanity prevails and that those who make the decisions reach an agreement or a new “social pact” that takes into account the people’s demands and restores peace. The events are still ongoing and we can only be optimistic.
By: Dr. Marcela Tapia Ladino, Professor, Arturo Prat University, Iquique-Chile
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[1] https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-50124583
[2] Concha, Nanette Liberona, Marcela Tapia Ladino, and Yasna Contreras Gatica. «Health mobility between Arica and Tacna: analysis of an unmet demand and an attractive offer on the other side of the border.» Geopolitics (s). Journal of studies on space and power 8.2 (2017): 253-279.
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