Neoliberalism: Born and died in Chile? Reflections on the 18-O from feminist perspectives

Abstract

Chile is not only one of the most neoliberal countries in the world; it was also a laboratory where neoliberalism was tried and tested, via the arrival of the “Chicago Boys” to key posts in the Pinochet dictatorship. Since October 2019, Chile has been rocked by a social uprising that has challenged this model to its core, called the “18-O”. In this article we propose that, from 2011 on, the anti-neoliberal narratives of Chilean students and feminists have been key in the questioning and the crisis of the neoliberal model, as they dispute neoliberal understandings of democracy and, simultaneously, also propose alternative conceptualizations and practices. We will use the analysis of discussion groups and interviews, done with feminist students and professionals between 2019 and 2020, in order to explore these anti-neoliberal discourses and their connections with feminisms. Our argument is that it is precisely the power and potential of anti-neoliberal feminisms, their theory and practice, that allow us to imagine better and more democratic futures. However, at the same time, we must also be wary of the limitations and conflicts within feminisms. In this article we will concentrate on those tensions that exist between feminists and political parties and the difficulty of conceptualizing this with regard to the political coalition known as the Broad Front (Frente Amplio).