The Constitutional Design
摘要
This chapter analyzes Chile’s constitutional process as a response to the social outburst, highlighting the tension between institutional efforts to contain unrest and political demands for systemic transformation. It examines two key milestones: the overwhelming approval of a new constitution in the October 2020 plebiscite, where nearly 80% of voters supported replacing the Pinochet-era framework, and the May 2021 Constitutional Convention elections, which upended Chile’s political order. Independents and anti-establishment forces, empowered by measures such as gender parity and reserved Indigenous seats, secured unprecedented representation, reflecting deep distrust in traditional parties. These developments marked a decisive rupture, as the electorate rejected establishment politics and reshaped power dynamics. The shift sidelined the political right, strengthened the left and nontraditional actors, and explored the depth of societal frustration and the fragmentation of political consensus. While the process offered hope for democratic renewal, it also introduced risks of instability, as untested leaders assumed central roles in shaping Chile’s political future. The chapter underscores this moment as a transformative break, illustrating the challenges and opportunities of consensus-building amid demands for profound reform.