Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis

by Jared Diamond

before stepping down as president, Pinochet obtained legislation naming him senator-for-life, permitting him to appoint several new Supreme Court justices, and retaining him as commander-in-chief of the armed forces until he finally retired in 1998 at the age of 83. That meant that Pinochet, and his implicit threat of another military coup, were constantly on the minds of Chile’s democratic leaders. As one Chilean friend explained it to me, “It’s as if, upon Nazi Germany’s surrender on 9 May 1945, Hitler hadn’t committed suicide but remained senator-for-life and the German army’s commander-in-chief!” Further strengthening the Chilean military’s position, Pinochet’s constitution included a provision (still in effect today) specifying that 10% of Chile’s national copper sales revenue (yes: sales, not just profits!) must be spent each year on the military budget. That gives Chile’s armed forces a financial basis far in excess of the money needed to defend Chile against any credible foreign threat—especially considering that Chile’s last (and only its second) war ended over a century ago in 1883, that Chile’s borders are protected by ocean and desert and high mountains, and that Chile’s neighbors (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru) are not dangerous. Instead, the only likely use of Chile’s armed forces is against the Chilean people themselves.