Entre la ley y la violencia política: los rostros de las derechas chilenas, 1925-1973

Abstract

This article explores the trajectories of Chile’s moderate and radical right-wing parties and organizations vis-à-vis political violence. It suggests that, while they each definitely exhibit different traits, they were not absolutely cut off from each other. The liberal-conservative (moderate) Right chose to exercise legal and police State violence against its adversaries, because political struggles occurred within the institutional order, but did not reject militarization outright. For the nationalist-anti-liberal groups, which were rather marginal to the political system, violence was a doctrinal principle. It is noteworthy that its leading militarized incarnations received ample support and participation from the moderate Right, acting together against a common enemy.