Constitutionalism and dictatorship
Subtitle: Pinochet, the Junta, and the 1980 constitution
By: Robert Barros.
Series: Cambridge studies in the theory of democracy
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Cambridge, UK; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 349
Subjects: Constitutional history -- Chile.; Civil-military relations -- Chile -- History.; Chile -- Politics and government -- 1973-1988.
Description: "It is widely believed that autocratic regimes cannot limit their powers through institutions of their own making. This book presents a surprising challenge to this view. It demonstrates that the Chilean armed forces were constrained by institutions of their own design. Based on extensive documentation of military decision making, much of it long classified and previously unavailable, this book reconstructs the politics of institutions within the recent Chilean dictatorship (1973-1990).

It examines the structuring of institutions at the apex of the military Junta, the relationship of military rule with the prior constitution, the intra-military conflicts that led to the promulgation of the 1980 constitution, the logic of institutions contained in the new constitution, and how the constitution constrained the military Junta after it went into force in 1981. This provocative account reveals the standard account of the dictatorship as a personalist regime with power concentrated in Pinochet to be grossly inaccurate."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 327-340) and index.