The term refers to the military coup d'tat that occurred in Chile on September 11, 1973. On this date, the armed forces, led by General Augusto Pinochet, overthrew the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende. The event culminated in the bombing of the presidential palace, La Moneda, and the death of President Allende, marking the end of Chile's long tradition of democratic rule and the beginning of a 17-year military dictatorship.
The coup was the result of a convergence of severe internal and external pressures. Domestically, Allende's "Chilean Way to Socialism," which included the nationalization of key industries like copper mining and agrarian reform, faced intense opposition from conservative political parties, business elites, and a segment of the middle class. This opposition was compounded by economic turmoil, including hyperinflation, widespread shortages, and disruptive strikes. Externally, the United States government, operating within the context of the Cold War, viewed Allende's Marxist-influenced government as a threat. Declassified documents have confirmed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) actively engaged in covert operations to destabilize the Allende administration and create the conditions for a military takeover.
The immediate consequence of the coup was the establishment of a military junta led by Pinochet, which systematically dismantled democratic institutions, dissolved Congress, and banned political parties. The subsequent dictatorship was characterized by severe political repression and widespread human rights violations, including the execution, torture, and forced disappearance of thousands of political opponents. Concurrently, the regime implemented radical neoliberal economic policies, advised by economists known as the "Chicago Boys," which fundamentally restructured the Chilean economy. The date remains a deeply significant and polarizing day in Chilean history, symbolizing the violent rupture of democracy and the profound, lasting trauma of the authoritarian period that followed.
