Conversations with Allende: Socialism in Chile

by Régis Debray, Camila Vergara (Introduction), Ben Brewster (Translator)

On the 50th anniversary of the coup that overthrew Allende, a new edition of this classic text on Chile's socialist president

The election in Chile of the Marxist leader of the Socialist Party, Salvador Allende, to the presidency in October 1970 inaugurated a political situation unique in Latin America and of world-wide significance. Allende's Popular Unity coalition embraced Socialists and Communists and campaigned on an election programme of unprecedented radicalism – nothing less than the abolition of monopoly capitalism and imperialism in Chile.

In this book, Régis Debray, recently released from his Bolivian gaol, questioned President Allende about his strategy for socialism. These discussions ranged widely over the history of the workers’ movement in Chile, the strength of imperialism in Latin America, the experience of the first months of the Allende government, the role of the Chilean armed forces, Allende's personal background and friendship with Che Guevara, the seizure of land by peasants since the Popular Unity victory, and the international outlook of the new Chile.

In an introductory essay, Debray furnished an analysis of Chilean history and politics which situated Allende in the past and present of the country and explored the dynamics of the class struggle now unfolding there.

For this new anniversary edition, leading Chilean leftist scholar Camila Vergara has written a new introduction which appraises the book in the light of recent political developments in Chile.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Intellectual, journalist, government official and professor. He is known for his theorization of mediology, a critical theory of the long-term transmission of cultural meaning in human society; and for having fought in 1967 with Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara in Bolivia.

Reviews

[Julian Worker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salvador Allende was the 28th president of Chile from 1970 until his death in 1973.

This book is a record of two conversations President Allende had with the French Marxist philosopher Regis Debray in early 1971, the first in Santiago, the second in Valparaiso. The conversations cover regional history, geopolitics, and Allende's personal life. They include his visit to Cuba where he met Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

As a democratic socialist committed to democracy, he has been described as the first Marxist to be elected president in a liberal democracy in Latin America. Allende's aim was to enact revolutionary reforms to upend the system from within, as referenced by Guevara's note to Allende in a book called The Guerilla War written by Guevara. The note said "To Salvador Allende, who is trying to obtain the same result by other means."

Of course, Allende was seen as a danger to "western interests" and his policies seemed to be popular with his people. When the possibility arose the Allende government might be increasing in popularity, Nixon, Kissinger, and the CIA backed a coup by General Pinochet in 1973 in which Allende passed away, almost certainly not by his own hand as is generally advertised.

[Jesus Hills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allende's Chile is one of the biggest what-ifs in Latin American politics. It’s tricky to pin down where Allende falls since he was assassinated before his vision was achieved. I wanted to read this book because of my hatred for Milton Friedman, who, although he did not pull the trigger, I believe is largely responsible for creating Pinochet's nightmare dictatorship. The interviews conducted with Allende couldn't have predicted Pinochet's coup (although Allende concedes that there is a possibility of a military coup if his plans don't go exactly as planned). Still, they shed some light on his ideas and ideals. The benefit of hindsight helps to extrapolate where Allende might have gone wrong, but hearing his beliefs in his own words is nonetheless valuable as a primary source for a critical time in Latin American politics. I will concede that I approached this book with some skepticism, as it reads at times like propaganda and an attempt at cult-making. The bias is clear, and thinking otherwise would be willfully ignorant.

The commentary and background information were invaluable in providing an appropriate amount of background information and Chilean history (with a Marxist bent) to concretely establish a context for Allende's ascendancy. I couldn't help but see similarities between Allende's Chile and the United States of the last 25 years. If anything, this is a thought-provoking treatise on Socialism, its values, and possible ways to change a capitalist society from within. The text also serves as a cautionary tale of the fragility and dangers of counter-leadership. I was disappointed to have my opinions of Allende remain essentially unchanged, and, like most people, I am left with the eternal question of what could have been had Allende lived to complete his vision.

[Pablo Paniagua Prieto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative and pleasant interview at Salvador Allende, in which you can get a quick glimpse at his Marxist view.

[Matthew O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good little book about socialism in Chile. especially interesting considering allende proved that socialism can't just he voted in as he was murdered by the CIA after about 4 years leading chile

[Assad Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting dissection of the thoughts of a successfully elected democratic socialist ultimately uprooted by the American Empire through imperialism and destabilisation as a natural consequence of capitalism. Interesting to read about his thoughts, response to critiques and relationships with other South-American leaders at the time.