Labor and regime change: The challenge of democratization in Argentina and Chile, 1924-193

The dissertation focuses on the role played by working-class movements and popular-based political parties in Argentina and Chile between 1924-1932, when both countries suffered a breakdown of democratic institutions and a subsequent transition back to civilian rule. Whereas this transition marked the beginning of a long period of competitive, democratic politics in Chile, it brought restrictions on political participation in Argentina--an arrangement which would lead to polarized and unstable politics.;The dissertation argues that these two countries began different regime trajectories after 1932 because of their contrasting approaches to the challenge of labor incorporation. In Chile, organized workers were incorporated into the political and legal system, setting the stage for the establishment of strong, democratic institutions. In Argentina, the working classes were not incorporated in any formal or systematic way until later, reinforcing a pattern of hegemonic politics whereby groups representing opposing class interests demonstrated an ambivalent attitude toward democratic politics, preferring to seek exclusive dominance rather than a balance of power.;The dissertation explores the reasons for this critical difference, analyzing four key factors. First, the evolution of a radical, politicized orientation among Chilean workers is contrasted to the greater tendency among organized workers in Argentina to pursue a pragmatic, economic-oriented approach and eschew direct participation in politics. Second, the greater political strength of Chilean elites made it possible to negotiate mutually acceptable compromises with labor. Third, the rise and fall of authoritarian politics in Chile were accompanied by more extensive popular mobilization, which stands in contrast to the general passivity and complacency of working-class groups in Argentina. This meant that the Chilean military's intervention in politics had a popular component, while the Argentine military could safely exclude labor from meaningful participation in the politics. Finally, the chaotic, militant atmosphere which accompanied the transition to civilian rule in Chile convinced virtually all major social groups that their interests could best be defended through democratic politics. In Argentina, on the other hand, the military became a tool which the conservative elite could turn to when it felt that democratic outcomes were not to its liking.