Chile's Right-Wing Resurgence: Yesterday's Strongmen, Today's 'Populists'
The article highlights Kast's promise to implement a 'military state of exception' in border regions and deport migrants, framing it as a solution to a 'big crisis' in Chile's north. This is presented as a domestic political development, naturally arising from the electorate's concerns. CASE A: Kast's Chile - The 'Order' Narrative Jose Antonio Kast's political rise in 2026, leading to his
presidential victory, is attributed to a tough-on-crime and anti-immigration platform. The Al Jazeera report quotes residents expressing concerns about increased crime and a perceived influx of undocumented migrants, predominantly from Venezuela and other struggling Latin American nations. Kast's proposed policies, including increased militarization of borders and expedited deportations, are
therefore portrayed as a direct answer to these 'crisis' conditions. His campaign rhetoric consistently emphasized 'order' and 'security' as primary objectives. CASE B: Pinochet's Chile - The 'Security' Pretext Compare this to the narrative surrounding Augusto Pinochet's ascent to power in Chile in 1973. Following the US-backed coup against democratically elected Salvador Allende, Pinochet's junta
justified its brutal authoritarian rule, including the systematic torture and murder of an estimated 40,000 political opponents (Amnesty International, 2004), under the guise of restoring 'national security' and combating a perceived 'communist threat.' The external framing, particularly from Western media and governments, largely accepted this rationale, often downplaying the human rights