Michelle Bachelet’s Government: The Paradoxes of a Chilean President

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

The purpose of this article is to explain the contradictions in Michelle Bachelet’s presidency by focusing on the paradoxical nature of presidential power, the limits on the executive in the Chilean constitution, and how those limits affected President Bachelet’s government. At the outset of her presidency, she faced the problem of wanting to promote inclusive policies while simultaneously experiencing political pressure to maintain elite consensus. Due to institutional and political constraints, Bachelet’s rhetoric of inclusion could not be realized, and she eventually decided to opt for the more traditional elite consensus approach. In our view, the emphasis on achieving elite consensus produced contradictory results. It sustained Bachelet’s personal image as a national leader, but limited her ability to get effective legislation passed. Indeed, the Concertación itself was blamed for inaction rather than the president as an individual.

Object Details

• Alternative title: Die Regierung von Michelle Bachelet: die Paradoxien einer chilenischen Präsidentin ; El Gobierno de Michelle Bachelet: Las paradojas de la presidencia en Chile
• ISSN: 1868-4890
• Extent: Seite(n): 97-121
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal of Politics in Latin America, 4(3)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Politikwissenschaft ; politische Willensbildung, politische Soziologie, politische Kultur ; Chile ; Präsident ; politische Macht ; politische Führung ; politische Elite ; Kompromiss ; politische Situation ; politische Strategie ; Andenraum ; Entwicklungsland ; Südamerika ; Lateinamerika ; deskriptive Studie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Weeks, Gregory ; Borzutzky, Silvia
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Deutschland
• (when): 2012

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:gbv:18-4-5665
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST