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Call for Papers. Special Number "100 Years of Social Work: Discussions and Perspectives on the Discipline's Past, Present and Future". Submissions in Spanish or English until the 30th April 2025 for publication in October 2025 (Issue 10). For more information please see the following link.
Authoritarian neoliberalism in the discursive articulation of the Chilean Right post-Social Outbreak
Authors
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Luciano Santander
Lateinamerika-Institut, Freie Universität Berlin
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0471-7696
Abstract
The following article explores the discursive articulation of the Chilean right, exploring its evolution from a moderate position to one of radicalisation. The article argues that this articulation is based on the defence the main ideological legacy of the dictatorship: authoritarian neoliberalism, as represented by trade unionism. This evolution is based on a strategy of moral panic that seeks to radicalise neoliberal positions through authoritarian techniques within the democratic framework, taking advantage of a political context conducive to a reaction of far-right ideas.
The research is based on in-depth interviews with leaders of the Republican Party and the Independent Democratic Union and analysis of documentary sources and public speeches. These narratives provide crucial information for understanding the process of discursive articulation of the Chilean right.
In the context of the rise of the far right globally, examining the dynamics of its contemporary discourses in Chile offers crucial insights into the complex interplay between capitalism, democracy and the right. Thus, this study seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of neoliberalism's authoritarian and flexible character.
Keywords:
authoritarian neoliberalism, far-right, backlash politics, discourseReferences
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