Afterword

Summary

I was working on the final version of this book in English when the great Chilean estallido of October 2019 erupted. Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna said: “Chile sleeps like a groundhog and wakes up like a lion.” For many years Chile was asleep; in mid-October 2019 it woke up.The possible drafting of a new constitution in Chile is only one of the demands of the October protest movement. The social and economic component of this proposal is still pending, and it may have an impact on the peaceful transition process. We should bear in mind that these constitutional moments are volatile and there can also emerge serious risks of instability that can precipitate a crisis of democracy. Democracies may be weakened and destroyed not only by generals but also by civilians. At this crucial constitutional moment Chile, and in other countries, needs to secure respect for democratic rules, recognize political differences, reject violence, and guarantee civil liberties for all. As we have seen throughout this book these rules and practices have long been a part of the best Chilean constitutional, democratic, liberal tradition and could provide solid ground for the construction of the new republic.