Chile (Central World)

The Republic of Chile is a nation located in South America.

History
Main Article: History of Chile

Parliamentary Republic (1891 - 1925)
The pseudo-parliamentary system was established in Chile following José Manuel Balmaceda's defeat in the 1891 Civil War. The first president of this period was the Admiral Jorge Montt Álvarez (1891 - 1986).

In this scheme, the National Congress dominated national politics, while the President was a figure almost decorative, without authority and subject to the decision of the parliamentary majority. The political parties grouped into two major political groups: the Coalition, formed by the Conservative Party and more liberal groups, and the Liberal Alliance, which included liberal groups and the Radical Party. By the end of the period of 1910 begin to be important Socialist Workers Party and its association with the labor movement.

At this time, there were three social groups are strongly marked, the oligarchy, the middle class and popular sectors. During these years, the country's progress continued due to the wealth produced salt mining, which allowed the construction of some works such as the Trans-Andean Railroad and the National Museum of Fine Arts, to commemorate the Centennial of Independence. However, the national economy had overcome the destructive earthquake that hit the port of Valparaiso, on August 16, 1906. During the First World War, the country was ruled by President Luis Sanfuentes, who decides to stay neutral, despite the historical relations that Chile has with both Germany and Great Britain. After the invention of synthetic saltpeter during the Great War, the Chilean economy experienced a gradual decline until the late 30s. In 1920, was elected President Arturo Alessandri Palma. Alessandri proposes a series of political and social reforms to fix once the situation in the country, but the Congress is strongly opposed. The dissatisfaction with the rejection of the reforms was reflected in the so-called saber rattling in 1924, by the young officers of the army and seen as a coup threat. Congress passes the laws, but the military did not return to their own work. In this situation, Alessandri feel that their power has been exceeded and presented his resignation to Congress, based on a "voluntary exile" on 10 September 1924.

Between 1924-1925 the power was held by two government boards, shaped by the military. On September 11, 1924 the National Congress was dissolved. However, in the end the military failed to control the situation, and the January 23, 1925 Alessandri returns to complete its mandate. Alessandri succeeds in creating the Central Bank of Chile and is approved in a referendum a new constitution is promulgated on September 18, 1925. With this Constitution, the power effectively becomes the President of the Republic, ending the parliamentary government, and establishing a presidential system.

Presidential Republic (1925 - Today)
Following the presidential victory of the new Constitution of 1925, President Alessandri proposed to launch a single candidacy for the elections of that year, and thus leaving behind the country's political crisis. The parties choose the candidate Luis Barros Borgoño, who later is elected president, assuming the December 23, 1925. During the presidency of Barros Borgoño, is created the Comptroller General of the Republic (in spanish: Contraloría General de la Republica) and the Carabineros de Chile (the new police). On the external side, negotiations between Chile and Peru on the territory of Tacna and Arica continue by this time. However, the failure of arbitration leads both countries to go to war in 1928. The conflict (called the Tacna War) lasts for more than three years, but Chile won the war. Tacna stay definitely under Chilean control, besides some peruvian territories. After the end of the war, the effects of the Great Depression hit the country. However, the industrial push and monetary reparations following the war, allowed the second government of President Arturo Alessandri (elected in 1930) resisting the crisis and continue the development of the country.

In the 1936 elections, the Popular Front's candidate, Pedro Aguirre Cerda (Radical Party) is elected President by a narrow margin. Aguirre Cerda promotes the education and the industrialization of the country, supported on the good functioning of the national economy. It him to overcome the strong opposition and violence of pro-fascist groups, arisen a few years before. When the Second World War explodes, Chile again maintained his neutrality, despite the frictions with the pro-axis governments in South America. After the Axis victory, it began the so called Cold War between the three dominant powers (USA, Germany and Japan), staying the world principally divided in three spheres of influence.

Chile, as well as the rest of Latin America, stay under the eaves of the United States, but unlike other countries, where pro-American dictatorships got up, in Chile, the democracy remained firm and manage to progress. The national politics was dominated by the Conservative, Liberal, Radical, and Socialist Parties, until the end of the 50s, when, on the one hand, the groups of Left side collapse as consequence of the end of the USSR, and on the other hand, the Christian Democracy arises.

Chile continues his industrial development during the 40s, 50s and 60s, across the work of the CORFO, which allowed the creation of diverse important companies for the country, while the agriculture, the fishing and the mining industry were promoted. The Copper was nationalized in 1964. The economy growth allowed realizes reforms and improvements to the systems of education and of Health.

In 1966, the frontier disputes in the south territory with Argentina unleashed a warlike clash with Chile, which was taken advantage by the Fascist Germany to try to dismantle the North American hegemony. The Patagonia War spread until 1969, when the Chilean troops captured the city of Bahia Blanca, forcing the peace with Argentina.

After the war, and with the coming of the revolutions that led to the fall of the fascism, the Chilean governments began to promote the creation of a new organism of integration and defense of the democracy in America. In 1986 there was created the Democratic Union of American States.

The world economy enters crisis at the end of the 70s, and Chile was not the exception. The national industry began to decline opposite to the foreigner competition, and several companies bankrupt or were sold. For overcome the situation, a new government in 1982, initiate a series of new reforms that, in a couple of years, allowed to the country to recover his growth and consolidate his regional leadership.

In the 90s, the exterior politics of Chile focus in Europe, where the countries were experiencing a crucial political and economic situation, after be liberating of the German hegemony. By means of well-planned negotiations and visits of Chilean authorities, they were achieved to make concrete innovative commercial agreements with the members of the EC, giving him to the country an unforeseen paper in the economy of the Old continent. Nevertheless, this also him brought to Chile several complications with the USA, who for then was seeking to demonstrate his real power as superpower (attenuated during the Cold War) extending his influence towards Europe.

Chile Today
Already in the new millenium, Chile began an important process to extend his economic bows with the Southeast Asia, taking advantage of the gradual loss of power of the Japanese Empire.