The Search for Justice: Analyzing the Chilean Democratic Transition in the Wake of the 2019 Social Outburst

In October 2019, millions of Chileans took to the streets to express their discontent with rising transportation costs, privatization of education, and pension administration. This mobilization resulted in a reevaluation of the Chilean constitution, written initially under Augusto Pinochet’s authoritarian government in 1980. However, in September 2022, 62 percent of voters struck the draft down. At this junction, one must ask what avenues may contribute to Chile’s ongoing political transition. By analyzing the lack of justice for victims of human rights abuses after the 2019 social outburst, one can recognize Chile’s transition to democracy as continuous and understand the importance of offering justice to victims, even if that means circumventing the Chilean judiciary.