A Nation of Enemies: Chile under Pinochet

by Pamela Constable, Arturo Valenzuela

"This will stand as the definitive work on Chile under Pinochet for many years to come."― Library Journal How Chile, once South America's most stable democracy, gave way to a culture of fear. The authors explain and illuminate the rift in Chilean society that widened dramatically during the Pinochet era.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, World History, Latin American History, Travel, 20th Century

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1991

Reviews

[Amanda Goetze · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very centrist analysis of the conditions and consequences of the Chilean coup in 1973. The thesis of this book is that extreme ideology is directly responsible for the decay of Chile's democracy, yet I saw little evidence to support this assertion. In fact, I would argue that centrist parties themselves are responsible for the Pinochet government, as both center-left and center-right political parties acted as collaborators as thousands of leftists were tortured and murdered and Chile became a fascist police state.

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books presents an extremely thorough and witness verified account of life under the Chilean dictatorship of Pinochet. For someone interested in comparative politics, especially in Latin America, this book fills the spot.
For all of the intrigue and questioning this book brings forth, I also think it can be used as an analogous study into the dangers of polarization. If you follow this line of study you can see many indicators or benchmarks that can track the growth of polarization within the United States. I am not contending a causal chain that the U.S. will end up like Chile, I am instead suggesting that if you really look at the critical factors that lead to the rise of Pinochet in Chile (regardless of the coup d'état, or the dictatorship), you will see a very interesting take on the dangers of extreme ideology.
It is within this glimpse of "right" ideology that embraced a culture of fear in Chile, that you can witness how extreme radicalization of ideology turns against acceptable human compassion.
If I had to critique an aspect of this book it would be that perhaps, Pinochet was portrayed inaccurately, or one-sided. While I will not defend the actions that happened under his regime, I will propose that Pinochet may have thought he was acting honorably, and doing what he did for the sake and pride of Chile. Was he misguided? Yes.
Anyway, this is a good book to turn back, and look at when discussing who is right and who is wrong, in an ideological sense. It is also a good book to use for showing what can happen when polarization is allowed to fester.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Constable and Valenzuela come perilously close to “both-sidesing” the Chilean dictatorship in this, still one of the principal popular works on the Pinochet regime. They clearly disdain the regime. But they do this “more in sadness than in anger” thing towards the regime’s critics and predecessors where they make it seem like their actions made a horrifying reactionary dictatorship inevitable. You hear a lot about how mad Chilean housewives (of a certain class status, anyway) were about lines for cooking oil and about the fecklessness of the revolutionary groups running around both Allende and Pinochet’s Chile. They even manage to get some digs in at the mothers of disappeared dissidents who protested the regime, talking about how they liked the attention, as opposed to the majority of the mothers!

On the one hand, some of this is useful corrective in an effort to make sense of what’s become a scare story on the left and increasingly an inspiration on the right (never thought I’d live to see the day when American reactionaries were so desperate as to model themselves after Latin American sleazeballs, but ok). The Allende regime and those around them made avoidable mistakes, though the authors emphasize the mistakes of harshness or incompetence versus the fatal mistakes of leniency towards the coup-plotting elements in the military. The bravado of the revolutionary groups like the MIR did little other than provoke- they were incapable of doing much more than harass the military regime once the coup began. Though the communist party paramilitaries damn near got Pinochet, and I’m not convinced by the authors’ assertion it wouldn’t have done any good if they had...

If there’s a lesson here… well, who’s to say there is one? There’s a certain portion of the population that’s going to hate and fear any amount of power going into the hands of people traditionally beneath them, no matter how peacefully and democratically. Those people are going to be disproportionately powerful, and in the case of Chile (and certain other American democracies) is probably big enough you can’t just deal with them militarily. In short, the left needs a practical politics to manage these things, not just a visionary politics of where we are headed. Here, the Allende people actually seemed to have some good ideas, but… when the CIA is actively undermining your economy and stirring up the basal hatreds of the bourgeoisie, experimenting with computer-aided economic planning isn’t going to help with that…

I don’t know. This book provoked many thoughts and feelings that I’ve yet to sort out entirely but it’s been a while since I read it so I felt compelled to review before I forgot about it. It’s all very well and good for a journalist from the Times and an academic State employee to be smug about pure, nonideological “people power” in the early 1990s but I’m not convinced that’s what actually got rid of Pinochet — and damn sure not convinced it brought him to justice — and I’m still less convinced it’s what’s needed now. Anyway… it’s a reasonably informative book but I think we need a new and updated standard. If nothing else it’s been twenty-five years. Anyone have anything to recommend? ***

[Michael Griswold · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Nation of Enemies: Chile Under Pinochet is a fairly balanced look at Chilean society under General Augusto Pinochet with interviews with both civilians of Chile and the military officials that were shrouded in power through 1989. The United States did not want Salvador Allende in power because they feared a Communist force uprising, so they sought to destabilize his regime virtually any way they could. Eventually Augusto Pinochet seized power and proved to be even worse for the people of Chile and a thorny issue for American policy makers who often sent mixed signals to the Pinochet regime often condemning actions, while still providing Chile with aid.

For the Chilean people, Pinochet was a blessing to some and a curse for others, the economy went into the toilet twice because Pinochet became two enamored with his men in the Chicago Boys in the second case and even when the economy was thriving, the money never really touched the poorest of the poor and when the economy faltered the newly secure suddenly became poor again through mismanagement and disillusionment began to spread among those who weren't prospering. Pinochet was a deathnail for leftists who were either forced into exile or excruciatingly mauled and tortured by the Contreas led DINA and other military forces.

There was no middle road for Chile, America feared a Communist Allende so he couldn't be allowed to retain power and under Pinochet many people were murdered for Political Beliefs or even potential sympathies for the Communists. Schools were taken over by the military personal and free thought was stifled, professors were fired, and the curriculum was changed to embrace the new culture, many mothers and fathers lost their children to prisons never to be found again facing false hope and conflicting information...but at least Pinochet wasn't a Communist.

My one complaint is that many of the personal intimate stories felt chopped up to fit everything else in.

[Annika Unterberger]

I read A Nation of Enemies: Chile under Pinochet as research for my final-year-project and it gave a great overview of the Pinochetregime. It explained all sides extremely thoroughly from the actual coup, across the DINA, up to the resistance from university students, workers and the opposition.
The interviews showed how ordinary chilean people coped with the dictatorship and it made everything so much more horrific. Therefore, when we came to the part of the 1988 referendum, I, even though I already knew what was going to happen, felt so relieved to see this terrible time in chilean history end.

Overall, I recommend A Nation of Enemies: Chile under Pinochet to everyone who wants to learn more about the time Chile spent under Pinochet.

[Julie Capell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives an excellent overview of what happened in Chile between 1973 and 1990. I would recommend it for anyone who is not familiar with this time period. I liked how it was organized not so much by date, but rather by subjects, with chapters like "The Law" (explains how the dictatorship created laws and co-opted lawyers, judges and others to allow for the repression of leftists) and "The Technocrats" (all about the Chicago Boys and others who worked hand-in-hand with the dictatorship to remake Chile's economy). There is just enough detail to give the reader a good grasp of this crucial 17-year period.

I also think people who are more familiar with Chile's recent history can benefit from the book's extensive index, which allows the reader to look up names and use the book as a reference for further research.

[AC · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine, concise, intelligent, highly readable survey of the Pinochet years

[Edward Champion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been studying as many autocrats and dictators as I can in an effort to identify historical parallels with our present nightmarish times (I am writing to you on March 10, 2025, seven weeks into Trump's present term). I was, of course, fully aware of the monstrous Pinochet's multitudinous abuses of the good people of Chile. What I didn't know, and what the two authors here have helpfully documented by dint of interviews and pithy breakdowns, was the scale of American influence in perpetuating this hideous despotism. The so-called "Chicago Boys" -- those capitalist on steroids scumbags who poured out of the University of Chicago during the 1970s and the 1980s like acid being tossed on a sacrosanct work of art -- were quite happy to apply the scourge of monetarism to this ailing nation, which was already plagued by torture, persecution, and "disappearances" under the vile dictator. I highly commend Constable and Valenzuela for showing how the extension of credit to the top 20% of Chileans (small businesses, successful entrepreneurs) not only created a parasitic international financing relationship with America, but also provided the "flashy" lifestyle of luxury as an incentive to look the other way. Never mind that this policy was doomed to fail, with the bottom dropping out of the Chilean economy in the early 1980s and causing many of these small-time "Masters of the Universe" to lose everything. We actually hear from many of them in this book and, remarkably, many do not have any regrets. The dreadful antidemocratic combination of political persecution and flooding Chile with a line of credit that it could not pay back was one of the reasons why Pinochet was able to hold on for so long. But it also led to one of the most important political coalitions seen in South America, in which centrists and even Allende-supporting socialists teamed up to establish the 1988 referendum, which led to the beginning of Pinochet's downfall. The monster was, of course, allowed to stay in power as a "senator-for-life." But Pinochet's name must always be associated with the very antithesis of democracy. I came away from this book with a deeper empathy and admiration for the people of Chile who fought against fascism when everything appeared to be stacked against them. As such, it might behoove any true American patriot to read this book and become thoroughly familiar with the sad but ultimately triumphant history of Chile. If you think it can't happen here, think again.

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil is evil. There is no sides to evil. I seldom run into books which are so generously balanced in their reading of complex political situations. How easy is it valorise the courage of the coup! How easier is it to sympathise with the welfare works of Salvador Allende? The author is careful not to slide into extremities. Scrupulously measuring the excesses and motivations of parties she paints a brutal and captivating image of the decade and a half of one of the severest betrayals of democracy.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a useful, relatively quick read on the topic of discussion: Chile under Pinochet. The text provided an appropriate amount of backstory and context for the events that unfold for the remainder, and as a reader with little to no prior understanding of the issues at play, I felt that the authors did well in bringing me up to speed. In other words, the book stands alone relatively well, thanks to authors' timely inclusions of relevant context.

The two-person writing team was made up of one prominent journalist and one distinguished professor, and the voices of each blended seamlessly for the overall writing style: it felt astute and academic while retaining general readability. The text was professiorial in that it was able to synthesize the broad issues of social justice, economics, geographical history, cultural norms, etc. in ways that would be impossible without undertaking careful study, while also journalistic in its ability to convey the timeliness of each moment to a broad readership.

Though this was an English-language text published in the U.S. and intended for Americans, the authors were appropriately critical of U.S. involvement in Chilean and broader South American affairs, without overstating American action enough to distort the story away from Chileans. I wish that the text did have some more geopolitical context as far as Chile's neighbors, economic partners, etc., as well as longer descriptions of how the changes in other Latin American countries affected or influenced government in Chile. The text hints at widespread tumults of Marxism, authoritarianism, and U.S. hegemony without a depth of examination of the way that different countries' changes affected each other.

As others have written, the book was strengthened by its inclusion of many voices of 'regular people'. The drier, textbook-feeling sections of the book were nicely offset by personal interviews that provided a welcome layperson-feel of the writing, as well as, of course, providing perspectives on Chilean affairs from the people themselves. The writer's eye was not stuck in Pinochet's palaces, but rather was in the streets and homes of many different kinds of Chilean people.

At a time when the U.S. is headed dangerously towards trends of authoritarianism and slips of checks and balances, any accounts of governments like Pinochet's Chile are likely to help us make sense of this rapidly changing world, and what citizens can do about it.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down best book on Pinochet...Okay, so its the only book on Pinochet that I've actually read. I liked it.

[Rhuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book's first edition over 30 years ago, little realizing how well it would mirror the US' own future. In reading of the rupture in Chilean society under Allende, and the resulting rightist coup, I'm convinced that the same thing would have happened here if Bernie Sanders had ever become president. Not for one moment would the US right have allowed it to stand, except long enough to produce the polarization and discord necessary to justify a national security state.

Of course, Pinochet's coup did not restore national unity, but engaged in targeted repression that stifled diversity in the screams of the tortured. In reading the recollections of Chileans caught in this "process," and how its damaging divisions have lingered, the parallels with what's ongoing in the US are chilling. There is no National Stadium roundup yet in the US, but not for lack of desire. The United States is bifurcating into a nation of enemies unseen since the 1960s - perhaps the 1860s - and the damage will be as generation-lasting as in Chile.

The bifurcation was not only political. Dictatorship was necessary to impose the first Chicago Boys, Friedmanite trickle-down capitalism of the era. As the rich grew richer the poor were devastated as jobs, careers, opportunities and skills were stripped from the middle and working classes. Teachers drove cabs, skilled machinists sold trinkets on the street, exactly as in east Europe after "free market reform" in the 1990s. Such is the future in apparent waiting in El Norte.

Pinochet the autocrat was removed by a plebiscite in which the majority voted "No" on extending the regime's miserable life. Would that the US' slower slide into autocracy is so easily reversed. Even so, the transformation of the economic order into feudalism will remain. Unforeseen in the Chicago Boys reign of Chile was the new biotech world of the 21st century, where human dictators will be superfluous.

A "good read" to not only understand the 20th century's most notorious South American dictatorship, but the crucible in which North America now finds itself.

[Valencia W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm traveling to Chile shortly and this amongst other books were recommended reads. I don't know why I wasted my time with some others (i.e., Curfew) because I thought this book by Constable was an excellent comparative political book about the fall of Allende, rise of Pinochet, and various socio-economic factors that both had to deal with while they were in power. When I started reading the book, for some reason it took me 2-3 chapters to finally get into it but as soon as I got into the 4th chapter I found the unbiased recount of history during this turbulent time riveting. There were times where the method of how Constable vividly describes scenes on the streets, in poblaciones,and other parts made me realize I had unwavering opinions of the junta and economic policies that were pushed to Chilean society while under Pinochet. With that said, Constable also forced me to face the fact that Pinochet brought in some people tried to bring in some good to society (although poorly managed and executed). I would highly recommend this book to anyone visiting Chile or to help supplement their studies. This is a book where active reading is required and if you're nodding off just close the book and pick up at another time because Constable makes some very astute points to challenge or substantiate your thoughts on Chile. Highly recommended!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book unpacks different elements of Chilean history under Pinochet, with chapters on the general himself, the secret police (DINA), the judiciary/the law, experiences of the rich and poor during the regime, and the extreme neoliberal economic policy undertaken at the recommendation of technocrats like 'the Chicago Boys'. I think this is a good book for a broad introduction to this part of Chilean history. There are heaps of sources for anyone looking to do further research.

Although a little dry generally, the book effectively conveys the terrors of the regime, with DINA running amok 'disappearing' and torturing people, and the courts mostly looking the other way in order to not interfere with the military.

Since I can't resist pointing out unexpected mentions of my home country when I come across them, let me say I was surprised to learn that New Zealand's Carter Holt Harvey group was one of the foreign investors who profited from privatisation under Pinochet, with investments in Chilean petroleum.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit dated as it was published in 1991, not too long after Pinochet left office and before a great deal of secret intelligence on his regime was release and, and of course, recent events have shown just how severe the consequences of Pinochet's economics were. Unfortunately when I was looking for a book on the topic I didn't seem to find a better, more recent book. Constable and Valenzuela pretty comprehensively cover the regime and its workings, from the DINA to economics. (This book was published near the height of the neoliberal consensus, and is probably gentler than a contemporary take would be, but nonetheless, is blunt about the human and economic cost of the free-market revolution.)

[Ultan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good unbiased account of Pinochet's rule over Chile. This book discusses all aspects of life under Pinochet in Chile and covers a broad area of subjects which would interest the reader from the rich to the poor and from daily living under Pinochet to the free-market economics of Pinochet. The book is comprehensive and provides the reader with a lot of information. The book also discusses briefly pre-Pinochet history in some sections such as Chile's attitude towards political parties pre-1973.

I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to learn more about Chilean history specifically from 1973 to 1990.

[Joe Ruvido · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost 30 years before 2001, Chile had its own infamous 9/11. I really like how they laid out the history of the Chilean revolution in this book…and it was haunting to read especially considering the rise of nationalism and right wing governments today.

Any of the chapters could be read on their own as a long-form article on a certain part of the revolution...obviously I recommend reading the timeline of events that led up to 9/11/73 (chapters 1 and 2)...the chapters about the nouveaux riche (chapter 8) and the poor (chapter 9)...and of course the chapter about the culture of fear and the disappearances perpetrated by the secret police (Chapter 5).

[Andy Han · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is about the Chilean revolution which is also known as "1973 Chilean coup d'état". The book gives information about the Chilean revolution and basic information about Chile during the time of the revolution. The reason why I read this book was due to my classmate giving a presentation about it during history class. The revolution sounded interesting with a lot of drama, so I decided to look deeper into the revolution. However, this was boring compared to what I expected and it took a long time for me to finish this book because it wasn't as interesting. This is the reason why I gave this book a one-star rating out of five. There isn't much to say about this book because it just talks about the Chilean revolution and I wasn't interested in this book.

I would like to recommend this book to people who like history and are interested in revolution. This book can give a lot of information about the Chilean revolution. However, for people that get bored while reading books shouldn't read this because it would take a long time to finish

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced, even handed chronicle of Chile’s descent into polarisation during the 1960s, hysteria and political paralysis under Allende, and brutality and economic shock therapy after the military coup of 1973. The motto of the Chilean secret police during the Pinochet era was “We will fight in the shadows so that our children will live in the sunlight.” This could also have been a motto for the Chilean opposition, which eventually survived the years of repression to throw off the shackles of army rule.

[foxfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written & compelling narrative, shifting focus from the presidential palace, the politicians, and everyday citizens.

A couple critiques: seems to underwrite the US' role in Pinochet's dictatorship, and if anything provides a rosy view of US foreign policy toward Pinochet in the 80's. Additionally, appears to highlight failure of South American economies, under socialism and dictatorship alike, without acknowledging the stranglehold on the economy that US empire had.

[S.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and accessible examination of the rise and fall of a dictator. The information is broken down into sections- the rich, the poor, the soldiers etc.- providing a well-rounded look at the regime and its impact on the country. Now more than ever, Americans should be educating themselves on how and why democracy is threatened.

[angela !!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

really interesting and well written. put into a broader context a lot of the things i had learned in other classes. i liked how they split up the chapters and delved into the various groups that make up chilean society and governmental structure and how they were affected by the regime. provides a fairly in-depth look at the pinochet regime without feeling too nitty-gritty or tired with detail

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Chock full of important details. Took me a long time to read but was a very good examination of the history of Pinochet’s coup and dictatorship in Chile. It looked at each group of society in relation to events. It was a frightening glimpse at how a democratic society with high regard for the law can turn toward authoritarianism.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. Researched. Easy to read with very little background on the subject.

[E. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book a lot of information. Would be good to cross check some of the things.

[Gareth Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did the job I wanted it to. Explained how he came to power, went through aspects of life under his rule, and explained how it ended. All in 320 pages.

[Camron · Rating 5 out of 5]

So you can vote out fascism?!?!?!?!?

[albie_of_nonfic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introduction for anyone wanting to find out about this period in Chile.

Relatively even-handed and provides backstory.

[Grisham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of reiterating, but nice to get the practice in a location i don’t exercise enough.

[Dale Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly dense.
Could have been organized a bit better and reduced by 100 pages but I’m thankful for the book. There weren’t many other options on that period. I’m glad to have read it.