How have the recent protest movements and widespread political discontent become prominent in contemporary Chile? This thesis attempts to illustrate how the 1980 constitution, that served to...Show moreHow have the recent protest movements and widespread political discontent become prominent in contemporary Chile? This thesis attempts to illustrate how the 1980 constitution, that served to protect the legacy of the dictatorship with a rigged voting system, has led to shortcomings in citizen participation. Consequently many Chilean citizens have chosen not to participate in the formal political sphere: expectations of a democratic, inclusive state have not been met. However, the student movements demonstrate how some citizens have adopted an alternative channel of participation. Aside from that, the concept of participative democracy, as interpreted in this thesis, will attempt to explain the cause of the current dissent, and hence why contemporary Chilean democracy is undergoing a crisis.Show less
