Republic of Chile

Republic of Chile (1946)

Liberal-Conservative State of the Southern Pacific

After the collapse of the global balance caused by the German victory in Europe, Chile emerged as one of the few South American states that managed to preserve institutional stability without descending into radical authoritarianism. By 1946, the Republic of Chile is a country defined by a liberal-conservative political order, firmly aligned with the United States and shaped in large part by its strategic rivalry with Argentina.

Political System

Chile maintains a constitutional republic, with limited but functional elections, an active parliament, and a strong presidency. The regime rests on a coalition of:

• Pro-market economic liberals
• Republican conservatives
• Institutionalist senior military leadership

The state promotes:

• Social order
• Private property
• Firm anti-communism
• Official religious neutrality, with strong Catholic cultural influence

Unlike several other countries in the region, Chile rejects open fascism, viewing it as a threat to national sovereignty and a source of instability.

Alliance with the United States

From 1943 onward, Chile became one of Washington’s principal partners in South America, integrating into American commercial, naval, and intelligence networks.

The alliance is based on:

• Preferential access to Chilean copper
• Modernization of the Chilean Navy under U.S. doctrine
• Regional anti-communist cooperation
• Intelligence sharing on pro-Axis movements in the Southern Cone

Although not a client state, Chile relies on U.S. backing as a counterweight to authoritarian powers and emerging blocs.

Rivalry with Argentina

Relations with Argentina are cold, tense, and increasingly ideological.

Chile views the Argentine National Salvation State as:

• Authoritarian
• Expansionist
• Aligned with the Italo-German axis
• A potential destabilizer of the Southern Cone

Key sources of friction include:

• A limited arms race in the Andes
• Diplomatic disputes over influence in Uruguay and the South Atlantic
• Competition for regional leadership
• Minor border incidents and mutual espionage

Both countries avoid open war, but continually prepare for it.

Armed Forces

The Chilean Armed Forces are:

• Professional
• Defensive in orientation
• Well trained for mountain and coastal warfare

With U.S. support, Chile modernizes:

• Its navy in the South Pacific
• Its air force with U.S.-made fighter aircraft
• Its coastal surveillance and counter-subversion capabilities

Chilean doctrine emphasizes territorial defense, deterrence, and internal stability.

Internal Situation

In 1946, Chile is politically stable, but faces:

• Moderate social tensions
• Trade unions that are monitored but legal
• Ideological pressure from pro-Argentine movements and clandestine leftist groups

The state responds with legal control rather than terror, reinforcing its international image as a functional conservative democracy in an increasingly polarized world.

Chile in the New Global Order

Chile presents itself as:

• A pro-American bastion in the South Pacific
• A political counterweight to the Argentine bloc
• A pragmatic and cautious regional actor

It does not seek to lead Latin America, but refuses to be dominated by it. In a world divided between empires and ideological blocs, Chile bets on balance, trade, and sovereign survival.