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coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
ESTUDIO
Harbingers of the Concertacins
demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
elected by popular vote)
for 16 years. DE
By the
of multiparty
SOCIOLOGA
LAstandards
CULTURA
coalitions anywhere,
much less among Latin
presidential
LA DECONSTRUCCIN
DEAmericas
LO MAPUCHE*
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
Aldo Mascareo
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
este artculo
la diferenciacin
e individualizacin
Any ofEnthese
forces,seorsostiene
some que
combination
of them,
could indeed
de laConcertacin,
sociedad moderna
hecho
ms carente
rendimienundermine the
butha we
docada
notvezregard
thesede factors
as
to
analtico
al
concepto
de
cultura
como
indicacin
de
la
unidad
y
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
coherencia
de
constelaciones
simblicas.
Las
culturas
son
crecienteIn the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
mente iterables,
inconsistentes.
juicio del autor,
in far better shape
than thatinterpenetradas
of any of itse Southern
ConeA neighbors,
and
los
datos
de
la
encuesta
mapuche
del
Centro
de
Estudios
Pblicos
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003.
The
en be
el ao
permiten
de estafor
iterabiliConcertacin realizada
may well
in a2006
position
in mostrar
2005 toaspectos
claim credit
good
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonALDO MASCAREO
Antroplogo,
Austral
Chile. Magster en
democratic legacy
of the .Pinochet
eraUniversidad
including
thede renowned
Sociologa, Universidad Catlica de Chile. Doctor en Sociologa, Universidad de Bielefeld, Alemania. Acadmico del Departamento de Sociologa de la Universidad Alberto
Hurtado.
* Agradezco a Daniel Chernilo sus siempre clarificadoras crticas; tambin a
Claudia Mora sus fundamentales observaciones y aportes bibliogrficos. Agradezco
igualmente a Lucas Sierra por sus comentarios y al Centro de Estudios Pblicos la
oportunidad de analizar los datos de la encuesta mapuche. Mencin especial merece
Gabriela Azcar de la Cruz, sociloga de la Universidad de Chile. Este artculo no habra
sido posible sin su alta habilidad metodolgica, su visin del anlisis de datos y sus
atentos comentarios a mis propias interpenetraciones e inconsistencias. Parte importante de lo bueno de este texto tambin le pertenece. En los errores la responsabilidad
es del autor.
N. del E.: Se publica tambin en esta edicin el comentario de Jorge Larran al
presente artculo. Sobre los resultados de la encuesta mapuche realizada por el
CEP (2006), vanse tambin en esta edicin los trabajos de Fernando Ziga, Eduardo
Valenzuela, Ignacio Irarrzaval y M. de los ngeles Morand, Rolf Foerster y Sonia
Montecino, Juan M. Ossio y la presentacin de Carolina Segovia y Lucas Sierra.
Estudios Pblicos, 105 (verano 2007).

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
62
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
slowed somewhat
since these coalitions
earlymapuche.
years in
dad simblica
de lo que comnmente
denomina cultura
governmentSeduring
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
constata tambin que a nivel de las autodescripciones de
los
galvanized actores,
aroundelopposition
the cumple
Pinochet
the 1970s
concepto deto
cultura
unaregime
funcin of
poltica:
constru-and
1980s, so as
passes,dethe
compelling
forcefragmentado
of that initial
ye time
una ficcin
unidad
en un mundo
que, motivation
como un
might naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
even Es
its decir,
component
mana,
es adosable
a cualquier
reivindicacinand
poltica.
en
trminos
sociolgicos,
cultura Democrats
para poco; en trminos
polticos,divided
culparties most
notably
the Christian
are internally
para such
mucho.
over social tura
issues,
as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority En
in la
theteora
Chamber
of Deputies
(thelolegislative
house
antropolgica
no existe
que pudiramos
llamar
elected by popularunvote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
acuerdo absoluto en torno a la definicin del concepto de cultura.
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin
Americas
(Talcott
Parsons, presidential
El Sistema Social)
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
I. Cultura para qu?
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
stas pginas buscan sostener la tesis siguiente: como concepto
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
tcnico del anlisis social, la cultura ha perdido buena parte, sino todo, de
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
su poder descriptivo y explicativo de las diferencias y semejanzas en una
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
sociedad moderna cuyas constelaciones problemticas son crecientemente
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
transversales, supraterritoriales y multidependientes. La cultura se vuelve
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
porosa. Por esto mismo, sin embargo, para los que aspiran a autocomprenin far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
derse a travs de ella y para otros que persiguen objetivos estratgicos
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
invocndola, la cultura conserva una alta utilidad como instrumento para la
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
afirmacin de una diferencia local e histrica que viene asociada a posicioeconomic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonnamientos instrumentales u objetivos polticos. Es decir, en trminos sociodemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
lgicos, cultura para poco; en trminos polticos, cultura para mucho (para
demasiado quizs).
El anlisis de los datos de la encuesta mapuche realizada por el CEP
hace plausible esta tesis desde un punto de vista emprico. La aplicacin del
instrumento tanto a mapuches como a no mapuches rurales y urbanos indica dos cosas: en trminos generales, no existe una diferencia significativa
en las dimensiones investigadas entre mapuches y no mapuches; sin embargo, cuando ellas existen tienden a asociarse a temas de orientacin poltica. Si esto es as, entonces la cultura no puede ser invocada como categora sociolgica para dar cuenta de la condicin actual de este grupo tnico,
aunque cuando se trata de impulsar, construir o exhortar a tal diferencia
tnica, el concepto puede adquirir alta relevancia a modo de autodescripcin poltica.
Para desarrollar esta argumentacin, se expone primeramente el paulatino adelgazamiento que sufri el concepto de cultura en la historia de la
antropologa. Se busca con ello poner en evidencia su labilidad como herra-

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coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
63
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasdeslowed
thenocoalitions
mienta
anlisissomewhat
social (II), since
en tanto
permite darearly
cuentayears
de losinalineagovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
mientos cada vez ms episdicos y situados de los individuos frente a las
galvanized
arounddeopposition
themundo
Pinochet
regimey of
the 1970s and
exigencias
inclusin entoun
estructural
simblicamente
diferen1980s,ciado
so as(III).
timeSon
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
estas exigencias las que tienden a deconstruir los contenimight naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and even its
componentEsto es
dos culturales
fuertes
y a transversalizar
sus referencias
simblicas.
parties lomost
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
que se observa en el anlisis comparativo entre mapuchesdivided
y no mapuover social
as datos
the legal
of divorce
and access
to birth
ches, issues,
en basesuch
a los
de lastatus
encuesta.
Para entrar
en ello,
se definen
control.primeramente
Finally, by the
elections,
the Concertacine will
have held the
los2005
conceptos
de interpenetracin
inconsistencia,
centrales
presidency
a majority
in these
Chamber
Deputies
(the legislative
house
en eland
anlisis
(IV), luego
observanoflas
interpenetraciones
en la
dimensin
electedeconmica,
by popularenvote)
for con
16 years.
By the
of multiparty
relacin
los medios
de standards
comunicacin
y en el espacio
coalitions
anywhere,
less among
Latin en
Americas
presidential
familiar
(V) y las much
inconsistencias
se analizan
relacin con
la preocupacin
systems,
bearing
the scars of miscellaneous
porthe
la Concertacin
mantencin deislageriatric,
cultura (VI).
Consecuentemente
con la tesis ms
corruption
charges against
members,poltica
including
stripping
ofalguna
arriba esbozada,
es en la dimensin
donde the
se puede
apreciar
parliamentary
from
fivedeoflathe
coalitions
in 2002,
and they la no
distanciarights
en los
datos
encuesta
entredeputies
la poblacin
mapuche
generalmapuche.
disillusionment
that goes
thepara
reins
of power
for so poltiEllo constituye
unawith
baseholding
emprica
observar
la funcin
ca del
concepto
de cultura
(VII)
y cmo lis provoca
descentramiento
long. One
might
conclude,
then, that
the coalition
simply ready
to expire. en la
reconstruccin
simblica
mapuche
(VIII). El of
texto
se cierra
un breve
Any of these forces,
or some
combination
them,
could con
indeed
relato the
etnogrfico
(IX). but we do not regard these factors as
undermine
Concertacin,
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
II. La deconstruccin de la cultura
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Terreno predilecto para la deconstruccin son las constelaciones de
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
significado que se autocomprenden como slidas, unificadas y totales. En
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the non1871 sir Edward Burnett Tylor instala el referente conceptual de cultura que
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
comenzara a fragmentarse en los ciento cincuenta aos siguientes: Cultura
o civilizacin, tomadas en su sentido etnogrfico amplio, es ese todo complejo que incluye conocimiento, creencia, arte, moral, ley, costumbre, y cualquier otra capacidad y hbitos adquiridos por el hombre como miembro de
la sociedad (1871: 1). No intentamos en esta seccin reconstruir la genealoga del concepto de cultura, aunque s identificar determinados hitos en el
despliegue de su semntica que dan cuenta de cmo el concepto fue paulatinamente perdiendo el carcter holstico y panexplicativo contenido en la
definicin de Tylor y cmo, por tanto, antropolgicamente, hablar de cultura oscurece un campo problemtico que hay que esclarecer por otros medios. A grandes rasgos, estos hitos son los siguientes: la distincin entre
civilizacin y cultura que enfrent en el siglo XIX a la tradicin humanista
francesa con la alemana, la tecnificacin de la tradicin alemana en el siglo
XX a cargo de Franz Boas, el influjo sociolgico liderado por Parsons en el
Department of Social Relations de Harvard con un concepto simblico
y normativo de cultura, la desnormativizacin del concepto con Geertz y

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
64
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has y,slowed
somewhat
since de
thelacoalitions
years
Schneider
finalmente,
la disolucin
solidez de laearly
cultura
en la in
antrogovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
pologa postmoderna.
galvanized La
around
opposition
to the Pinochet
regimeal of
the 1970s and
distincin
civilizacin/cultura
enfrenta
universalismo
francs
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
con las formulaciones alemanas de sustrato particularista. Lomotivation
que en ltimo
might
naturally
weaken. In
the Concertacin,
even its component
caso
se contrapona
eraaddition,
la realidad
externa de la and
civilizacin
como impulso
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
dividedde la
racional y sobre todo progresivo con el marco espiritual
e interior
overcultura
social issues,
such asdetheCicern,
legal status
divorceanimi,
and access
birth del
en el sentido
comoofcultura
como tocultivo
control.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the
espritu humano y nacional (Reckwitz, 2000). El concepto de civilizacin
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
estaba asentado ya a comienzos del siglo XIX en la semntica europea de
elected
by popular
forde16lasyears.
By the
standards of
multiparty
filiacin
francesavote)
a partir
numerosas
descripciones
de culturas
exticoalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
cas reunidas en el siglo anterior. La civilizacin se presentaba como estadio
systems,
the Concertacin
geriatric, bearing
the scars
of miscellaneous
de superioridad
frente alis salvajismo
y la barbarie;
progresismo
que tambin
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
poda encontrarse al interior de los mismos pueblos civilizados
y queofabarparliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
caba tanto el desarrollo social como intelectual de los pueblos (Kuper,
general
disillusionment
that esta
goesfewith
holding the
of progreso,
power fordesodesa2001).
Guizot expresaba
civilizatoria:
Lareins
idea de
long.rrollo,
One might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to civilizacin
expire.
me parece la idea fundamental contenida en el palabra
Any
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
could
(Guizot en Kuper, 2001: 44). En trminos nacionales, Inglaterraindeed
careca de
undermine
Concertacin,
but we progreso
do not regard
these factors
asconprogresothe
intelectual,
pero mostraba
social; Alemania
era su
necessarily
to theambas
coalitions
survivalLo
forcentral
a number
reasons. era
tracara, devastating
y Francia reuna
dimensiones.
de la of
civilizacin
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years
de todos modos su universalidad, su absorcin de las fronteras nacionales;
in farla better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
Kultur en tanto era lo que permaneca en el Volksgeist (Elias, 1989).
employmentJohann
and growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
Gottfried Herder est en el origen de la tradicin relativista y
Concertacin
may
be in adeposition
to aclaim
credit for de
good
particularista dewell
la nocin
cultura.inSu2005
ataque
la abstraccin
la iluseconomic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
non- setracin, a su teleologa histrica eurocntrica que se vierte en estados
democratic
legacy
of the en
Pinochet
era including
the renowned
cuenciales
de desarrollo,
cosmopolitismo
y colonialismo,
es una de las
claves que se transmiten al pensamiento antropolgico de los siglos siguientes (Denby, 2005), como tambin lo es la idea de comunidad familiar de
la nacin en tanto opuesta a la antinaturalidad de la unificacin imperialista
ilustrada. En palabras de Herder: Un reino consistente de una sola nacin
es una familia, una casa bien ordenada: descansa en s misma pues est
fundada por naturaleza, y emerge y cae slo por el tiempo. Un imperio
formado forzando a cien naciones a juntarse y a ciento cincuenta provincias,
no es un cuerpo poltico, es un monstruo (Herder en Denby, 2005: 18). Es
paradjico que el desarrollo de la idea culturalista de Herder a travs de la
antropologa en los siglos XIX e inicios del XX pudiera ser desplegado en
el marco de la colonizacin y las guerras imperialistas. Probablemente haya
sido esto lo que llev a Tylor a presentar civilizacin y cultura como conceptos homlogos.
De la intelectualidad inglesa preocupada de los dilemas morales victorianos, Matthew Arnold representaba la posicin romntica: la civilizacin

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
65
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
sincees the
coalitionsinterior
early de
years
in y el
era exterior
y mecnica,
la cultura
una condicin
la mente
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
espritu (Arnold, 1960: 48). Con su asociacin de la civilizacin a la cultura,
galvanized
opposition
to the Pinochet
regime of the
1970s
and
Tyloraround
introdujo
el evolucionismo
lineal decimonnico
en las
formulaciones
1980s,romnticas
so as timedepasses,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
cultura como aquellas del historicismo alemn y la propia de
might naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
even its component
Arnold: las
culturas
progresaban
en el formatoand
de Morgan,
del salvajismo a
parties lamost
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
divided
barbarie hasta civilizacin. Con ello, el mensaje internally
al futuro fue
paradjico:
over social
issues, such
as the
legal pero
statusella
of era
divorce
and access es
to decir,
birth haba
los primitivos
tenan
cultura,
subdesarrollada,
control.pluralidad
Finally, by
the 2005
Concertacin
have held
the unicultural
peroelections,
deba serthe
observada
comowill
estadios
sucesivos
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
versales. An Alfred Weber en 1935 conservaba esta ambigedad: esos
electedcuerpos
by popular
vote)tanto
for 16
years.
By que
the constituyan
standards of
multiparty
histricos,
en el
caso de
culturas
primarias y
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
secundarias superpuestas como tambin en el caso de que sean productos
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
thejunto
scarsa of
miscellaneous
primarios
permanentes,
que coexistan
unos
otros,
estn todos ellos
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
of 1968:
insertos en un gran movimiento unitario de progreso gradual
(Weber,
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
16). La cultura para Weber forma una unidad inserta en un proceso civilizageneraldor
disillusionment
that goesdewith
holding
theyreins
of power
so una
creador y modificador
objetos
fsicos
espirituales
quefor
definen
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
voluntad de cultura desde la cual los individuos extraen su actitud y su
Any of
these 1968).
forces, No
or slo
someelcombination
them, could
indeed
Geist
(Weber,
componente of
evolutivo
de la definicin
de
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
Tylor se mantiene en Alfred Weber, sino tambin su carcter holstico.
necessarily devastating
the coalitions
survival fordel
a number
of reasons.
Un primertopaso
en la deconstruccin
concepto
de cultura, tal
In the first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years en la
como era presentado por Tylor, fue el movimiento que se desarrollaba
in far escuela
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
etnolgica de Berln a fines del siglo XIX, cuyo ms prominente
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
representante fue Franz Boas. En conexin con el romanticismo alemn,
Concertacin
may well
be in aantropolgica
position in 2005
to claim credithistrico
for goodque reBoas formul
la escuela
del particularismo
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
nonchazaba la idea universalista de evolucin de la civilizacin y propona
la
democratic
legacy
of
the
Pinochet
era
including
the
renowned
interpretacin de cada cultura en trminos de su propio devenir histrico
(Harris, 2003). Si bien por ello Boas no se inclinaba a formulaciones tericas
generalistas, G. Stocking ha afirmado que su modo de usar el trmino cultura, incluso en un sentido plural como culturas, permiti al concepto
adquirir la carga de determinismo conductual que es un componente antropolgico particular de su significado antropolgico moderno (Stocking,
1966: 870).
Es precisamente esta idea la que se va a perfilar con la claridad y
sistematicidad caractersticas de Talcott Parsons en el por l fundado Department of Social Relations en Harvard en 1946 y que an impregna varias
formulaciones culturalistas de la actualidad, entre ellas las que hacen referencia a temticas mapuches (vase infra). El proyecto de Parsons nunca
pec de falta de ambicin. Ella alcanz para conformar un nuevo paso en la
deconstruccin del concepto antropolgico de cultura: cultura ya no era la
totalidad tyloriana, sino que ahora supona la autonoma de los componentes valricos y normativos frente al sistema social y la personalidad. Para

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
66
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasel slowed
somewhat
thees coalitions
earlydeyears
in
Parsons
sistema general
de lasince
accin
el orden mayor
constitucin
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
de lo social. ste se diferencia en tres aspectos: el sistema social, la persogalvanized
opposition
the Pinochet
regime
of thedeben
1970s
and
nalidad around
y la cultura.
En estetomarco,
los objetos
culturales
entenderse
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
como elementos simblicos de la tradicin cultural: ideas o creencias, smmight
naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and 24)
evenque
its component
bolos
expresivos
o pautas
de valor
(Parsons, 1966:
gozan de autoparties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
noma en tanto sistema respecto de los otros dos: Cada uno
de estos
overtres
social
issues,dice
such asParsons
the legal tiene
statusque
of divorce
and access
to birth
sistemas
ser considerado
como
un foco
control.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the
independiente de organizacin de los elementos del sistema de accin
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
(Parsons, 1966: 25). Independencia, sin embargo, no significa ausencia de
elected
by popular vote)
for 16es years.
By the
interpenetracin.
La cultura
transmitida
(porstandards
tradicin),ofesmultiparty
aprendida (no
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
es gentica) y es compartida (por los individuos): En este sentido, la cultusystems,
is geriatric,
bearing
the de
scars
of miscellaneous
ra es,the
de Concertacin
una parte, un producto
de los
sistemas
interaccin
social humacorruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
of por
na, y, de otra, un determinante de esos sistemas (Parsons,
1966: 34),
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
ello funciona slo como componente de un sistema de accin concreto.
general disillusionment
goes with
the reins of deba
powerdedicarse
for so al
La propuestathat
de Parsons
era holding
que la antropologa
long.estudio
One might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
de la cultura. Con ello le reconoca a la disciplina la autoridad sobre
Any of these
combination
could
el concepto,
peroforces,
a la vezorle some
restringa
su campoofdethem,
accin,
puesindeed
la psicoloundermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
ga estudiaba la personalidad y la sociologa integraba todos
los conocinecessarily
to the coalitions
survival
for adesde
number
of reasons.
mientos.devastating
Klyde Kluckhohn,
tambin en
Harvard,
los aos
treinta iba
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years
por un camino distinto, pues segua definiendo la cultura en un
sentido
in fargeneralista:
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
Por cultura la antropologa quiere significar la maneraand
total de
employment
andpueblo
growth(Kluckhohn,
figures rebounded
in first
2003.seguir
The havivir de un
1957: 27).
Conmonths
ello, seof
podra
Concertacin
wellmapuche
be in a position
in 2005
to claim
credit
for good
blando demay
cultura
y entender
con eso
algo total
y propio
de esta
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
nonetnia. Incluso la pretensin de Kluckhohn de encontrar valores universales
democratic
legacy
of the de
Pinochet
era del
including
the en
renowned
a pesar de
la diversidad
las culturas
mundo, lo puso
contra de la
asociacin parsoniana entre cultura y sistema concreto de la accin (Parsons y Vogt, 1962). Con reticencias, pero algo ms abierta al proyecto parsoniano, fue la posicin de otro miembro del grupo de relaciones sociales,
Alfred Kroeber. Kroeber acept la distincin analtica entre estructura social
y cultura y junto a Parsons escribi dos importantes pginas para seguir
afirmando la deconstruccin de la cultura. En ellas Kroeber y Parsons proponan las formulaciones siguientes: Sugerimos que es til definir el concepto de cultura para la mayora de los usos ms estrechamente de lo que
ha sido generalmente el caso de la tradicin antropolgica americana, restringiendo su referencia al contenido transmitido y creado de patrones de
valores, ideas y otros sistemas simblicamente significativos como factores
en la formacin de la conducta humana y en los artefactos producidos
a travs de la conducta. Por otro lado, sugerimos que el trmino sociedad
o sistema social sea usado para designar el sistema especficamente
relacional de interaccin entre individuos y colectivos (Kroeber y Parsons,

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
67
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
slowed
somewhat
since
the afirmacin
coalitions(aun
early
in
1958:
583).
El prrafo
conclua
con una
ms)years
programtica:
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
Hablar de un miembro de una cultura debe ser entendido como una elipgalvanized
around
opposition
to de
theuna
Pinochet
of the
and y Parsis que
significa
miembro
sociedadregime
de cultura
X1970s
(Kroeber
1980s,sons
so as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
1958: 583).
might naturally
weaken.
addition, theenConcertacin,
and eventcnica
its component
Con
ello elInoptimismo
torno a la utilidad
del concepto
parties de
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
cultura se apoder de la antropologa. Por fin pareca que
el concepto
over social
issues,
as the
legal
divorce and
access to birth
servira
para such
algo ms
que
parastatus
contarofancdotas
de sobremesa
sobre coscontrol.tumbres
Finally,exticas.
by the 2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
Pero Harvard criaba cuervos. Clifford Geertzthe
y David
presidency
and
a
majority
the Chamber
of Deputies
(the legislative
house
Schneider eran dos in
aventajados
alumnos
de Parsons
que iniciaron
sus proelectedyectos
by popular
vote) for
years. By
standards
multiparty de l,
en su mbito
de 16
influencia,
perotheque
luego seofdistanciaron
coalitions
mucha la
less
among Latin
Americas
presidential como
tantoanywhere,
en lo referido
pretensin
parsoniana
de la antropologa
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of
miscellaneous
subdisciplina sociolgica como en la dimensin normativa asignada a la
corruption
members,
the en
stripping
of ms
cultura.charges
Ambos against
llevaron sus
anlisis including
hasta un punto
que un paso
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
significaba la deconstruccin total: reconocer la ausencia de fundamento de
generalladisillusionment
that de
goes
with
holding antropolgica.
the reins of power
for se
so podra
descripcin cultural
toda
la tradicin
Con ello
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
afirmar: la cultura es una ficcin del que habla de cultura, hay cultura mapuAnycuando
of these
forces,
combination
of them, could indeed
che
se la
indicaor
ensome
funcin
de un objetivo.
undermine the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these factors
as
Schneider consider la cultura, en tanto horizonte
de smbolos
y
necessarily
devastating
to independiente
the coalitionsde
survival
for a number
of reasons.
significados,
como
la conducta
(Schneider,
1968), lo que
In the first
place,tena
the Chilean
economy
has come
five years
sin duda
impronta
parsoniana,
perothrough
cuandothe
se last
trataba
de normas,
in far adverta
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
que ellas se codificaban en un valor positivo y uno negativo.
Lo
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
que se mostraba conductualmente era la oscilacin de ambos valores. Si la
Concertacin
may well be
in a position
in 2005
to claimentonces
credit for
cultura contuviera
normas
que regulen
la conducta,
ellagood
sera paraeconomic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
non-para el
djica. Schneider prefiri hablar entonces de discurso hegemnico
democratic
legacy
of thenormativamente:
Pinochet era including
the sea,
renowned
valor que
se afirmaba
Por la razn que
a menudo sin
razn, algunas personas no se compran el discurso hegemnico. Pero ellos
no salen chillando en cualquier direccin. Chillan siempre orientados hacia
el discurso cultural hegemnico o alejndose de l, muy a menudo en una
direccin opuesta []. Porque la norma siempre implica su opuesto, algunas veces norma es no norma, algunas veces subir es bajar (Schneider, 1997: 273). La norma es hegemona y la cultura es un sistema simblico
de posibilidades, incluso el actor no era ms que una constelacin de significado condensada en la frmula persona, como tambin lo era aquel punto
cero del estructuralismo levistraussiano, la diferencia entre cultura y naturaleza (Kuper, 2001). La cultura quedaba as entendida como cultura del que
describe con cultura; es decir, la cultura de los otros es reflejo de la
propia describiendo a otros cuya otredad es inaccesible. Pero Schneider no
avanz en esa direccin.
La forma de entender la cultura en Geertz siempre mantuvo la referencia a lo simblico, a las telaraas de significado tejidas por el hombre, aun-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
68
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
the coalitions
early years
que tambin
podan somewhat
encontrarse since
referencias
al control conductual
por in
medio
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
de dispositivos simblicos (Geertz, 2005). En pasajes evaluativos de su
galvanized
opposition
to the
Pinochet
regime of the
1970s slo
and me
obra, sinaround
embargo,
este aspecto
quedaba
explcitamente
excluido:
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
llev un poco ms de tiempo darme cuenta de que una concepcin de
might
naturally
weaken.
addition,
the Concertacin,
its component
cultura
como
fuerzaIncausal
masiva
que modelaand
la even
creencia
y el comporparties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
tamiento [] no era muy til ni para investigar tales cuestiones
ni para
overtransmitir
social issues,
such
the legaldescubrir
status of adivorce
and
access investigado
to birth
lo que
unoaspretenda
partir de
haberlas
control.
Finally,
by53).
the 2005
elections,
the Concertacin
will have
helden
theejem(Geertz,
1996:
Si la cultura
es articulacin
simblica,
entonces
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
plos momentneos de conducta compartida, hay que construir una lectura
elected
popular
16pleno
years.
the standards
of multipartycuya
de lobyque
podra vote)
ser unfor
texto
de By
desviaciones
y desplazamientos
coalitions
much
less amongporLatin
unidad anywhere,
es inaccesible
al observador,
muy Americas
participante presidential
que se entienda.
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scarscultura
of miscellaneous
Geertz deriva la conclusin radical: describir una
es seleccionar
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
theencajen
stripping
of 69),
fragmentos
arreglados
y cortados
a propsito
para que
(1996:
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
pero no la desarrolla. Hacerlo significaba indicar que la cultura de los otros
general
disillusionment
thatsino
goes
of del
power
for so o en
nunca
fue de los otros,
quewith
naceholding
y muerethe
en reins
el texto
etngrafo,
long.elOne
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
discurso del activista que la emplea para afirmar una distincin.
Any El
oftexto
thesedel
forces,
or some
of ya
them,
could
etngrafo
de combination
todos modos
haba
sido indeed
sometido a
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as la
la deconstruccin de la escritura a fines de los aos sesenta.
Derrida
necessarily
devastating
to the coalitions
survival
for en
a number
of reasons.de la
acometi
con Lvi-Strauss
en mltiples
niveles:
el eurocentrismo
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five years en
distincin cultura y naturaleza, en la violencia de la irrupcin etnogrfica,
in farla better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
supuesta ausencia de escritura de los pueblos sin escritura (Derrida,
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
2003). Pero ha sido James Clifford quien ha llevado las cosas ms lejos.
Concertacin
in a position
in 2005y to
claim Clifford
credit forhagood
Instalado may
sobrewell
los be
hombros
de Schneider
Geertz,
buscado
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
theinformannonborrar la autoridad de la descripcin cultural. Un poeta, el clsico
democratic
legacy
of theetngrafos,
Pinochet yera
including
the es
renowned
te nativo,
son tambin
describir
una cultura
un modo de
estar en la cultura mientras se mira la cultura, una forma de autoconformacin personal y colectiva (Clifford, 1995: 24). El privilegio de las culturas
naturales se disuelve finalmente en un mundo multimodal en el que la cultura es ms bien una ficcin lograda, una ficcin seria contingentemente
construida: En un mundo con demasiadas voces hablando todas a un
tiempo, un mundo donde el sincretismo y la invencin pardica se estn
volviendo la regla [] se vuelve cada vez ms difcil atribuir identidad
humana y significado a una cultura o a un lenguaje coherente (Clifford,
1995: 122). Lo que era cultura, son ahora impulsos de sentido en continuo
desplazamiento que fragmentan las unidades culturales hasta lo inidentificable. De ello se lamentaba Lvi-Strauss en Tristes Trpicos seala
Clifford, de la prdida de las diferencias culturales por efecto de las mercancas que transforman la cultura verdadera en folklore, en arte, en turismo.
Pero esta posicin eurocntrica se deconstruye en la transversalizacin de
los significantes en un multimodal mundo moderno, pues esos significantes

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
69
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
since the
coalitionsenraizarse
early years
voltiles,
contingentes,
espaciantes,
no requieren
en elinpasado,
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
viven por polinizacin (Clifford, 1995: 30). Con ello el ltimo paso en la
galvanized
around opposition
to the
Pinochet
regime
of theclaro
1970s
deconstruccin
del concepto
haba
sido dado.
Quedaba
queand
ni para el
1980s,anlisis
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
sociolgico ni para el antropolgico, la pretensin totalizante y mulmight naturally
weaken.
addition,
theser
Concertacin,
and evenlaitspromiscuidad
component simtiabarcativa
de la In
cultura
poda
til para enfrentar
parties blica
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
en la sociedad contempornea.
over social issues,
suchesto,
as the
legal
status of
divorce
and access
birth
Con todo
una
pregunta:
qu
nos quieren
decirtolos
antropcontrol.logos,
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the
socilogos, polticos, ministros, asesores, abogados, economistas,
presidency
and a majority
in the
Chamber
Deputies (the
legislative
activistas,
periodistas
y los
propiosofmapuches
cuando
hablanhouse
de cultura
electedmapuche?
by popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
Ser la cultura de Herder, Arnold, Tylor, Weber,
Boas, Parcoalitions
lessSchneider,
among Latin
Americas
sons,anywhere,
Kluchhohn,much
Kroeber,
Geertz,
Clifford, opresidential
la de tantos otros
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of dira:
miscellaneous
no nombrados? Un antroplogo clsicamente formado
vaya y pregncorruption
against members, including the stripping of
tele al charges
native speaker.
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, III.
thatIterabilidad
the coalitionsimblica
is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the
Concertacin,
but wepresupuso
do not regard
these
factors
as
Si el
concepto de cultura
demasiado
desde
sus inicios,
y
necessarily
to the
coalitions
for asunumber
of reasons.
si lasdevastating
concepciones
ms
actuales survival
le arrancan
pretensin
totalizante e
In the first
place, the
Chilean economy
has come
through
theacciones,
last five years
integradora
y enfatizan
la iterabilidad
simblica
de las
entonces ya
in far no
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
se puede hablar de cultura como si nada hubiera sucedido. Noand
se puede
employment
growthmapuche
figures orebounded
first months of
2003.
hablar and
de cultura
chilena o in
latinoamericana
y dar
por The
entendido
Concertacin
well coherentes
be in a position
in 2005 topues
claim
for good
distintosmay
mundos
de significado,
esoscredit
mundos
estn conseconomic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
tantemente cruzados por aquello que tradicionalmente se ha nonobservado
democratic
legacyPueden
of theestarlo
Pinochet
including
como ajeno.
ms era
o menos,
pero lo the
estnrenowned
y ello invita a
abandonar la cultura como expresin de unidad e integracin para observar
sus interpenetraciones e inconsistencias, esto es, la iterabilidad simblica
de cada constelacin de significado.
Cuando se hace as, hablar de cultura es hablar de un vaco. Mantener su pretensin analtica es esforzarse hoy por hacer que el concepto
indique precisamente lo contrario de aquello que en su origen destacaba:
antes se trataba de la totalidad y coherencia de los mundos de sentido,
ahora es la fragmentacin e inconsistencia de los mismos. Es difcil ver la
razn por la cual a dos situaciones opuestas habra que seguir llamndolas
del mismo modo. El concepto original de cultura recoge un componente de
tradicin y de estructura normativa que es sin duda relevante para la descripcin de sociedades segmentarias y estratificadas de fundamento religioso, pero que pierde su prestancia cuando se trata de sociedades
funcionalmente diferenciadas modernas, precisamente porque ellas licuan
los contenidos tradicionales y deconstruyen las estructuras normativas. Se-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
70
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
since
coalitions
early years
guir hablando
de cultura
en ellas,
serathe
como
seguir hablando
del terinen la
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
fsica para referir a los campos electromagnticos. Cultura, eninitially
un sentido
galvanized
around
opposition
to
the
Pinochet
regime
of
the
1970s
and
analtico, es una forma de ter de las ciencias sociales.
1980s, so as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
Una forma sociolgica moderna de enfrentar la iterabilidad de las
might
naturally weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and concepto
even its component
constelaciones
simblicas
sin recurrir
al equvoco
de cultura es
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
divided
distinguir entre sociedad e individuo. Por la presininternally
de la diferenciacin
oversistmica
social issues,
such as theesferas
legal de
status
of divorce and
access
to birth
que constituye
funcionamiento
cada
vez ms
autnocontrol.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
thesobre
mas, la sociedad moderna libera a los individuos de tener que cargar
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
sus hombros la responsabilidad por la integracin social. De ello se deriva
elected
by popular
vote) for 16 del
years.
By the(Willke,
standards
of Giddens,
multiparty1992;
la creciente
individualizacin
individuo
1993;
coalitions
anywhere,
much less
Latin Americas
Luhmann,
1997; Lechner,
1991)among
y la creciente
iterabilidad presidential
simblica de las
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of miscellaneous
constelaciones de significado. Esta tendencia por
cierto
no es un acontecicorruption
against
members,
including
the stripping
miento decharges
las ltimas
dcadas.
Ya Durkheim
lo visualizaba
como una of
conseparliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
the a la
cuencia de la emergencia de la divisin social del trabajo and
frente
general
disillusionment
goes with
holding
the reins
of power for
so
integracin
mecnicathat
y estable
de las
sociedades
segmentarias:
a medida
long.que
Onelas
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
lneas de demarcacin que separan los diferentes segmentos se
Any of these
forces, orel some
combination
them, could
indeed
desvanecen,
es inevitable
rompimiento
de esteofequilibrio.
Como
ya no se
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as que
mantienen los individuos en sus lugares de origen, y los espacios libres
necessarily
devastating
coalitions
survival
forde
a number
of reasons.
ante ellos
se abren to
losthe
atraen,
no pueden
dejar
dispersarse
a travs de
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years el
los mismos (Durkheim, 1985: 344). Georg Simmel, por su parte, observaba
in farorigen
betterdelshape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
individualismo en dos fuentes: en la doctrina de la libre and
compeemployment
and
growth
rebounded
in first amonths
of 2003.
tencia ilimitada
de losfigures
individuos
que conducira
la armona
por laThe
aspiraConcertacin
may well be ina la
a position
in 2005 to(Simmel
claim credit
good
cin sin consideraciones
ventaja individual
2003:for
138)
y en las
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
consecuencias de la divisin social del trabajo como dispersin de nonpersonademocratic
legacy of the
Pinochet
era including
the renowned
lidades diferenciadas
hasta
la incomparabilidad
del carcter
y del esfuerzo
al que uno se siente llamado (Simmel 2003: 138).
La autonoma de la divisin social del trabajo, o autonoma sistmica
como ms modernamente se entiende a partir de la ampliacin del principio
de diferenciacin no slo a la esfera econmica sino a la descripcin de la
sociedad general, es a la vez condicin de la diferenciacin y autonoma
individual y tambin condicin del desacople entre conciencia individual y
cultura como todo coherente y unificado de significaciones y normas. Para
lograr inclusin social en esas esferas, las estrategias de los individuos
pueden ser y son altamente diversificadas, recurren a frmulas simblicas
diferenciadas. Por su individualizacin, la generacin de esas estrategias
por parte de los individuos no viene invariablemente determinada por la
necesidad de reproduccin del orden social, como acontece en sociedades
segmentarias, donde cada accin individual constituye un modo de operacin que a la vez est incrustado en la reproduccin de la unidad simblica
de la sociedad como un todo (Habermas, 1992).

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
71
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy hasComponente
slowed somewhat
the coalitions
early years
in
central desince
la relacin
entre individuos
y sociedad
en
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
condiciones de alta diferenciacin sistmica es la regulacin por mecanisgalvanized
around
opposition
to thedePinochet
regime
of rendimientos
the 1970s and
mos de
inclusin
y exclusin
las personas
en los
sistmi1980s,cos
so as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
(Luhmann, 1998). A diferencia de las sociedadesmotivation
segmentarias y
might naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and even
its component
estratificadas
donde
la inclusin
slo es posible
en un
espacio (en una
parties comunidad
most notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided en un
o en un rol, en el caso de las sociedades segmentarias;
over social
suchenasel the
status
of divorce
and access en
to las
birth
rangoissues,
o estatus,
casolegal
de las
sociedades
estratificadas),
sociedacontrol.des
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the
modernas ya no hay una inclusin sistmica exclusiva, se participa de
presidency
anddistintos
a majority
Chamber ofde
Deputies
legislative
modos
en in
losthe
rendimientos
distintas(the
esferas
(salud,house
educacin,
electedpoltica,
by popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multipartyde ellas
economa, etc.), como tambin se puede quedar excluido
coalitions
anywhere,
much deless
among Latin
por razones
diversas:
la economa,
por Americas
ejemplo, nopresidential
slo por falta de
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scarspor
of falta
miscellaneous
dinero, sino tambin por transacciones ilegales,
de informacin,
corruption
charges against
members,
including
the stripping
of
por inestabilidades
polticas,
por carencia
de calificaciones,
por prdida
de
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
la salud o por decisin individual.
general disillusionment
that goesdewith
holding the reins
power for
Las prescripciones
la estratificacin,
sin of
embargo,
no so
dejan de
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
existir en las sociedades modernas. Por ello se producen desigualdades de
Any of these
or some
combination
indeed opoinclusin
en losforces,
rendimientos
sistmicos.
Peroof
la them,
propia could
diferenciacin
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
ne resistencia a esas desigualdades y motiva a la inclusin de los as
desiguanecessarily
to the
coalitions
survival
for a numberlos
of sistemas
reasons. tienen
les, ydevastating
mientras ms
inclusin
genere
la diferenciacin,
In the first
place,probabilidades
the Chilean economy
has come
last five yyears
mayores
de reproducir
sus through
propios the
elementos,
al hacerlo
in far refuerzan
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
andno slo
as las condiciones que permiten su existencia. An ms,
employment
and growth de
figures
in first
of 2003. The
las prescripciones
rangorebounded
son combatidas
pormonths
la diferenciacin,
sino que
Concertacin
may
well
be
in
a
position
in
2005
to
claim
credit
for
good
tambin a mayor diferenciacin, como indica Habermas, ms desligada
economic
stewardship.
Next, many de
of patrones
the issues
surrounding
the nonqueda
la accin comunicativa
normativos
de comportamiento
democratic
legacy
of
the
Pinochet
era
including
the
renowned
concretos y recibidos (Habermas, 1992: 255) producto del desacople entre
sistema y mundo de vida. La generalizacin de motivos y valores es tambin
una consecuencia de la diferenciacin: ellos deben ser ms abstractos, ms
desprovistos de contenido para posibilitar la inclusin en espacios estructural y semnticamente diferenciados. Por eso las estrategias de inclusin
tienden a diferenciarse de modo perpendicular a las fundamentaciones culturales que exigen unidad para todos los casos. Las estrategias se localizan,
se temporalizan, se fragmentan, se individualizan; son situadas y episdicas, no extendidas ni constantes, es decir, no operan para todos los casos
del mismo modo ni se replican siempre igual. Esto las hace tambin altamente variadas y mueve a interpenetraciones e inconsistencias en las formas
culturales tradicionales. Ello explica que un mapuche venda o arriende las
tierras que el estado le ha entregado para su reproduccin cultural o que
ante una encuesta como la que motiva estas pginas no sea la cultura la
que conteste, sino individuos que expresan opiniones y pretensiones de
inclusin que no vienen determinadas por la tradicin.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
72
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
sincepuedan
the coalitions
early
years
in no
Sin slowed
embargo,somewhat
que las cosas
ser descritas
de este
modo
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
obsta para que los actores sigan empleando el concepto de cultura inclugalvanized
opposition
to the Pinochet
regime of thede1970s
so en suaround
acepcin
ms tradicional
como autodescripcin
lo queand
juzgan
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
identitario o propio. Como ha sido dicho, la tesis de este texto es que analtimight
naturally
Concertacin,
even its component
camente
el weaken.
conceptoIndeaddition,
cultura the
rinde
poco, pero and
polticamente
puede entreparties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
gar mucho como herramienta gua de reivindicacin poltica
paradivided
los actores
overque
social
issues, such
the de
legal
status
divorce and
access
birth y
lo emplean,
es as
decir,
lucha
porofinclusin
social.
Paratoarticular
control.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the
probabilizar sus condiciones de inclusin frente a los distintos sistemas
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
funcionales, los individuos se autodescriben culturalmente con el fin de dar
elected
popular un
vote)
for 16
years. By
the standards
multipartyhista susbydemandas
sentido
particular,
trascendente
y unaof
proyeccin
coalitions
lessdeamong
Latin Americas presidential
rica queanywhere,
aumente sumuch
potencial
reconocimiento.
systems, theElConcertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the scars reciente,
of miscellaneous
concepto de identidad, en su desarrollo
ha intentado
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
of
recoger esta problemtica. Pero como lo ha mostrado el debate
latinoameriparliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
cano en torno a l, la identidad tambin puede ser entendida como un rasgo
general
disillusionment
that goes
with holding
reins ofenpower
for so
permanente
de colectivos
determinados
quethe
se instala
discursos
pblilong.cos
One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
y lleva a formular una idea unitaria de comunidad (Larran, 2000). Jorge
Any of
forces,
or some
combination
of them,
indeed
Larran
ha these
intentado
salvar
el concepto
de identidad
concould
un movimiento
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
asconterico similar a lo que la antropologa postmoderna ha hecho con el
necessarily
the coalitions
for ade
number
of reasons.
cepto dedevastating
cultura, estodecir,
ha dotadosurvival
al concepto
un contenido
radicalIn the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years
mente distinto del de su origen. La identidad para Larran tiene una dimenin farsin
better
shape than
that of
any of itshistrica
Southern sobre
Cone categoras
neighbors, sociales
and
temporal
en tanto
produccin
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
compartidas, muestra asimismo una dimensin objetual o material que desaConcertacin
maysimblicas
well be inque
a position
to yclaim
credit for good
rrolla formas
invitan ainla2005
accin
una dimensin
social de
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
thepblica;
non- no
relacin con un otro. Lo pretendidamente fijo es slo versin
democratic
legacy
of the
Pinochet
eraantropolgica
includingde the
renowned
hay carcter
nacional,
como
la escuela
cultura
y personalidad (Benedict, Mead, Linton) pretenda; no hay tampoco identidades esenciales, como la tradicin culturalista latinoamericana lo formul: No hay
nada esttico acerca de las identidades culturales [] Las identidades culturales, a su vez, se pueden traslapar y no son mutuamente excluyentes
indica Larran (2000: 53). Puesto en nuestros trminos, la identidad es interpenetrada e inconsistente. La pregunta es si algo as puede seguir siendo
llamado identidad.
Stuart Hall se ha mostrado algo ms incmodo con el concepto
de identidad y ha propuesto la idea ms procesualista de identificacin
aunque el mismo autor reconoce que este cambio no es garanta contra
las dificultades lgicas del concepto (Hall, 2003). En la formulacin de
Hall, sin embargo, aparece una idea de alto valor para nuestra argumentacin: el uso estratgico y posicional de los modos de identificacin: [Las
identidades] emergen de la narrativizacin del s mismo, pero la naturaleza
necesariamente ficcional de este proceso, de ninguna manera socava su

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
73
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
the coalitions
in identiefectividad
discursiva,
materialsince
o poltica
(Hall, 2003:early
4). Esyears
decir, la
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
dad tanto como la cultura tienen un rol de autodescripcin poltica, como
galvanized
around
opposition
to versin
the Pinochet
regime
the 1970s
and
tambin
lo tiene
la idea de
pblica
de la of
identidad
de Larran.
Es
1980s,esta
so as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
autodescripcin poltica la que aqu hemos relacionado con las pretenmight naturally
Inde
addition,
the Concertacin,
and even itsde
component
siones deweaken.
inclusin
los individuos
en los rendimientos
esferas funcioparties nales
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
diferenciadas. Ir ms all de la idea de cultura e identidad
supondr
over social
issues,
such aslas
theconstelaciones
legal status ofdonde
divorce
access tode
birth
entonces
identificar
las and
pretensiones
inclusin
control.seFinally,
by the 2005
elections,
thegeneraciones,
Concertacinsexualidad,
will have held
the
alzan. Nacin,
gnero,
etnicidad,
religiosidad
y
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
sus interpenetraciones son campos donde la iterabilidad simblica de la
electedsociedad
by popular
vote)puede
for 16
years. expresin
By the standards
of multiparty
moderna
encontrar
en construcciones
ficcionales
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
autodescriptivas bajo la forma de identidad o cultura. En tales casos, ambos
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,para
bearing
the scars
miscellaneous
trminos
continan indicando
los actores
un of
nivel
de inviolabilidad
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
que no se puede trascender sin perder la identidad o la
cultura of
y que se
parliamentary
rights
fromfuerte
five ofpara
the ejercer
coalitions
deputiesoinpara
2002,
and the Pero
afirma de
manera
hegemona
combatirla.
generalcuando
disillusionment
that
goes with holding
the reins oofposicional,
power foresos
so niveel uso en la
autodescripcin
es estratgico
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
les de inviolabilidad se pueden violar para aspirar a la consecucin de nueAnyfines:
of these
forces,
or some
them, could
indeedsagrado
vos
la machi
puede
ser unacombination
negociadoraofpoltica,
el territorio
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
una fuerza ideolgica, los rituales pueden ser vistos como folklore, as
el ropaje
necessarily
devastating
to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
cotidiano
como artesana.
In the first place,
the parte
Chilean
has come
the last five
Buena
deeconomy
los problemas
conthrough
los conceptos
de years
identidad y
in far cultura
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and como
estriba en que en sus formas ms modernas se los emplea
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
designacin de un objeto de anlisis y a la vez como indicacin de una
Concertacin
may wello be
in a position
in 2005Entoelclaim
credit
autodescripcin
discurso
de los actores.
primer
caso,for
la good
cultura y la
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
identidad son iterables e histricamente formadas; en el segundononse constidemocratic
legacy of para
the Pinochet
era including
the renowned
tuyen fuertemente
alcanzar objetivos
polticos, como
en la afirmacin
de lo local frente a condiciones de sociedad mundial (Larran, 2005). En
relacin con el tema mapuche, el debate americano sobre etnicidad y racializacin puede abrir mltiples puertas en este sentido, al identificar la naturaleza transaccional y situacional de lo tnico como relacin entre autocomprensin y categorizacin externa (Jenkins, 2003), y lo racial como una
cuestin fundamentalmente ideolgica, que permite aprender una combinacin de reglas de clasificacin que se convierten en un sentido comn para
comprender y explicar el carcter de la propia situacin y actuar en consecuencia (Omi y Winant, 2002).
Formulado en nuestros trminos, las constelaciones de significado
son iterables, contingentes e histricamente formadas; las autodescripciones en cambio pueden seguir recurriendo a una idea de inviolabilidad cultural o identitaria si las circunstancias polticas as lo exigen. La cultura, en
este sentido, as como la identidad, son estrategias de los actores para
probabilizar sus condiciones de inclusin.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
74
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
slowedno somewhat
since thedecoalitions
early xito,
yearspor
in ello
Sin duda,
todas las estrategias
inclusin tienen
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
hay tambin exclusin. Su xito se probabiliza mientras la pretensin partigalvanized
around
opposition
to modalidades
the Pinochetderegime
of the sistmica
1970s and
cular sea
presentada
bajo las
observacin
y esto
1980s,
so as time no
passes,
the con
compelling
force
initial culturales.
motivation Hoy
generalmente
sintoniza
la pesadez
de of
las that
exigencias
might
naturally
In addition,
the Concertacin,
even its component
parece
ms weaken.
difcil permitir
el trabajo
infantil, el and
infanticidio
femenino o la
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
poligamia, aun cuando su mantencin sea fundamental
para la otra
vez
overreproduccin
social issues, cultural
such as the
status of divorce
and El
access
to birth
de legal
una determinada
sociedad.
sistema
jurdico
control.
the 2005
elections,
the Concertacin
will
haveobjeciones
held the al
tantoFinally,
a nivelby
nacional
como
supranacional
presentara
claras
presidency
and
a majority in the
Chamber of2005).
Deputies
(the legislative
respecto
(Mereminskaya
y Mascareo,
Del mismo
modo, elhouse
trueque o
elected
by
popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
el intercambio parecen tener hoy mucho menos probabilidades de xito
coalitions
anywhere, econmico
much lessgeneralizado
among Latin
como mecanismo
queAmericas
la compra ypresidential
venta de bienes
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing the de
scars
of miscellaneous
y servicios.
Pero, a la vez,
la alta variabilidad
estrategias
de inclusin,
corruption
charges otras
against
members,
the stripping
of las
algunas exitosas
no, hace
tambinincluding
que los rangos
aceptados por
distintas esferas
sean variables,
se muevan
continuamente
en funcin
parliamentary
rights from
five of theque
coalitions
deputies
in 2002, and
the
de las
pretensiones de
individuales
o colectivas.
Al respecto
general
disillusionment
thatinclusin
goes with
holding the
reins of power
for so casi unathen,
incursin
desimply
los mapuches
long.bra
Onepreguntarse
might conclude,
that themeditica
coalition is
ready to denunciando
expire.
porAny
cadena
nacional
el despojo
de tierras
habracould
tenidoindeed
el mismo
of these
forces,
or somehistrico
combination
of them,
efecto para
poltica restitutiva
estatal
estrategia
radical
de toma
undermine
the laConcertacin,
but we
do que
notlaregard
these
factors
as de
fundos
implementada
desde
los
aos
noventa.
La
idea
del
reconocimiento
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
constitucional
comenz
discutirsehas
en la
esfera
pblica
precisamenIn the
first place, the
Chileana economy
come
through
thechilena
last five
years
te
despus
de
esto.
Bien
por
la
reflexividad
de
los
sistemas
poltico
jurdiin far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, yand
co de cualquier
modo.figures
Bien tambin
por lainreflexividad
de salud
employment
and growth
rebounded
first monthsdelofsistema
2003. The
cuando
permite
un
machitn
junto
con
los
antibiticos;
o
por
la
reflexividad
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
del sistema
educativo
que many
con lasofmejores
intenciones
pone en
economic
stewardship.
Next,
the issues
surrounding
themarcha
non- un
programa
de
educacin
intercultural
bilinge.
Ms
all
de
los
problemas
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned o
soluciones que cada uno de estos programas presenta, ms all de su xito
o fracaso, nadie podra afirmar que se trata de indolentes y petrificadas
jaulas de hierro.
Los individuos generan esas formas de inclusin; se mueven, las
construyen pragmticamente, innovan y cuando ellas dan resultado se amplifican a otros individuos y se sostienen hasta nuevo aviso. Como seala
Rosaldo: La gente puede planear improvisar diciendo que tomarn las cosas como vengan, que irn paso a paso o que tocarn de odo. Sin intentar
hacerlo anticipadamente as, pueden responder a contingencias imprevistas
procediendo mientras van en camino. Sus improvisaciones pueden ser serias, ldicas o ambas; sus inesperados eventos de vida pueden ser alegres,
neutrales o catastrficos (Rosaldo, 1993: 102). Distintas articulaciones simblicas contribuyen y otorgan sentido a su mantencin, pero son permeables, porosas, contingentes, mviles. No estn inextricablemente atadas a
las historias nacionales, a las tradiciones orales tnicas, a las composiciones locales, ni menos a las historias oficiales ni discursos polticos o medi-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
75
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
the coalitions
earlygeneral,
years poiticas
in
ticos.has
Lasslowed
formas somewhat
simblicas since
son poticas
en un sentido
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
en un sentido preciso. Por medio de ellas se inventan y se tratan como
galvanized
around opposition
the Pinochet
regime 1995:
of the 57).
1970s
significativos
los objetostoculturales
(Clifford,
Es and
esa varia1980s,bilidad
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
la que posibilita una amplia variedad de inclusiones y exclusiones
might naturally
weaken.
In hace
addition,
andpara
evenbien
its component
funcionales,
la que
que the
lasConcertacin,
cosas cambien,
o para mal, departies pendiendo
most notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
de quin observe.
over social issues,
as the
statusanterior,
of divorce
access to birth
Comosuch
lo vimos
en legal
la seccin
sloand
los desarrollos
antropolcontrol.gicos
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
theadelgams recientes logran llegar a estos tejidos de iterabilidad que
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
zan la nocin de cultura hasta hacerla perder todo rendimiento analtico. Por
electedello,
by se
popular
vote)
years.
Byconfundir
the standards
of cultura
multiparty
hace hoy
cadaforvez16ms
difcil
nuestra
local con
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
naturaleza humana universal (Rosaldo, 1993: 38). Margaret Archer ha llesystems,
thea Concertacin
is de
geriatric,
bearingcultural
the scars
of miscellaneous
gado
hablar del mito
la integracin
creado
por la antropologa
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
of (Arcuya propiedad principal era establecer un patrn altamente
unificado
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
cher, 1997). El mito entendi la cultura como un sistema perfectamente
generalintegrado,
disillusionment
that cada
goes uno
withdeholding
the reinseraofinterdependiente
power for so con
en el cual
los elementos
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to expire. y cohetodos los dems: el ejemplo ltimo de una organizacin compacta
Any
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
could
rente (ibd.: 28). Sus rendimientos fueron ofrecer una idea deindeed
unidad subundermine
the deConcertacin,
but de
weconsistencia
do not regard
factors causal
as
yacente,
accin uniforme,
lgicathese
y consenso
de
necessarily
devastatingdetounthe
coalitions
survivalafor
a number
of reasons.
su transmisin
grupo
de individuos
otro.
Todo cabo
suelto deba
In the first
place, the como
Chilean
economy
has come
through thecultural
last fivey years
ser entendido
anomala
o como
desintegracin
todo futuro
in far como
better recreacin
shape thandel
thatpasado:
of anylos
of its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and vivir
individuos podan en gran medida
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
inductivamente desde contextos pasados hasta contextos futuros porque
Concertacin
well been
in actividades
a position inmutables
in 2005 to claim
credit
for39).
good
estaban may
embarcados
(Archer,
1997:
Cultura,
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
nonen este sentido, es eliminacin de la contingencia.
democratic legacy
the otra
Pinochet
eraenincluding
renowned
Con todoofesto,
pregunta:
un mundo de the
compleja
iterabilidad
simblica, es posible seguir entendiendo a los mapuches del modo siguiente?: El sistema socio-cultural del pueblo Mapuche ostenta un conjunto de
caractersticas propias que le son nicas, al igual que cualquier cultura o
sub-cultura, sea sta indgena o no-indgena (Durston y Duhart, 2005: 1;
cursivas, maysculas y guiones de los autores).

IV. Deconstruccin de la cultura mapuche I: Definiciones


Si el contenido de la referencia anterior fuese acertado, es decir, si la
cultura mapuche fuese un todo articulado, nico e irrepetible, entonces habra que esperar una notable diferencia en sus respuestas en relacin con la
poblacin no mapuche. Ms aun, si toda cultura es total, irrepetible y nica,
casi no cabra esperar similitud alguna, no slo entre mapuches y no mapuches, sino entre todas las as entendidas culturas de la sociedad mundial.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
76
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
slowed
somewhat
since
coalitions
early years
in
Lo que
muestran
los datos
de lathe
encuesta
CEP1 permite
plausibilizar
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
las siguientes ideas fundamentales:
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
(a)time
Que passes,
no existethetalcompelling
unidad cultural
que la motivation
idea de cultura
1980s, so as
forcemapuche,
of that initial
mapuche
totalidad
unificada
se deconstruye
interpenetraciones
might
naturallycomo
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
anden
even
its component e
inconsistencias.
Porthe
interpenetraciones
apuntamos
a la porosidad
y perparties
most notably
Christian Democrats
are internally
divided
meabilidad
de
las
formulaciones
simblicas
expresadas
por
mapuches
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birthy no
mapuches,
su the
uso2005
discrecional
y no
pertenencias
tnicas
control.
Finally,aby
elections,
thedeterminado
Concertacinpor
will
have held the
ni histricas.
Esto se debiese
constatarofen
respuestas
entre los
presidency
and a majority
in the Chamber
Deputies
(thehomogneas
legislative house
mapuches
y los no
mapuches
diversas
se descarta
elected
by popular
vote)
for 16 en
years.
By dimensiones.
the standardsCon
of ello
multiparty
la
idea
de
unidad
de
la
cultura.
Mediante
el
concepto
de
inconsistencia,
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
en tanto,
apuntamos ais orientaciones
diferenciadas
y miscellaneous
contradictorias en
systems,
the Concertacin
geriatric, bearing
the scars of
quienes se
autodefinen
como
mapuches,including
es decir, orientaciones
queofapuncorruption
charges
against
members,
the stripping
tan en unarights
direccin
en entredicho
por otras
que and
apuntan
parliamentary
from son
five puestas
of the coalitions
deputies
in 2002,
the en
una
direccin
distinta
o
contraria.
Con
ello
se
desecha
la
idea
de
coherengeneral disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
la cultura.
long.cia
Onedemight
conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
cultura or
se some
deconstruya
de este of
modo
y que
por indeed
ello pierda
Any (b)
of Que
theselaforces,
combination
them,
could
rendimiento
analtico no implica
que do
los actores
no puedan
empleanundermine
the Concertacin,
but we
not regard
these seguir
factors
as
do
el
concepto,
ms
an
cuando
l
parece
rendir
altos
frutos
para
expresar
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
semnticamente
sentido
de unidad
relevante
para
In the
first place, the un
Chilean
economy
has altamente
come through
the last
fiveobtener
years obcarcter
precisamente
en esta
dimensin
donde
aparein farjetivos
betterdeshape
thanpoltico.
that ofEsany
of its Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
ce un mayor
la poblacin
chilena,
lo que
employment
and distanciamiento
growth figures entre
rebounded
in firstmapuche
months yofla 2003.
The
permite
plantear
la
tesis
de
la
cultura
como
concepto
poltico.
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
(c) Finalmente,
es destacable
tambin
para todas las
economic stewardship.
Next,
many of the
issuesquesurrounding
the dimensiononnes la diferencia
rural/urbano
constituye
una fuente dethevariacin,
lo que
democratic
legacy of
the Pinochet
era including
renowned
nuevamente muestra la permeabilidad de la semntica mapuche al contexto
especfico en que sus individuos acten.
Del punto a, las interpenetraciones e inconsistencias, nos ocupamos
respectivamente en las dos siguientes secciones; del b la cultura como
concepto poltico en la seccin VII, y el c las diferencias rural/urbano se introduce como factor transversal en las dos anteriores. Sin
duda, cualquier anlisis de la iterabilidad simblica de una constelacin de
significado requiere de enfoques empricos de distinta naturaleza: anlisis
histricos, de discurso, semnticos, entrevistas en profundidad y etnometo1 La encuesta fue aplicada entre el 29 de abril y el 31 de mayo de 2006 a 1.487
personas que se autodefinen como mapuches y un nmero similar de no mapuches.
Universo del estudio es la poblacin de 18 aos y ms (urbana y rural) de la regin del
Bo Bo, de la Araucana, de los Lagos y Metropolitana, donde segn el Censo 2002
vive el 90% de la poblacin mapuche de Chile. La muestra es probabilstica por conglomerados y multietpica. El margen de error es 2,7% con un nivel de confianza de 95%.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
77
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has Probablemente
slowed somewhat
since theseacoalitions
in para
dologa.
una encuesta
el mtodo early
menosyears
indicado
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
constatar tal estado de cosas. Pero si a travs de estos datos es posible al
galvanized
opposition
to the Pinochet eregime
of the 1970s
menosaround
plausibilizar
las interpenetraciones
inconsistencias
de lasand
constela1980s,ciones
so as de
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
significado mapuche, entonces anlisis posteriores con otros mmight naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and even
component
todos podrn
especificar
y profundizar
lo dicho:
que its
esas
constelaciones
parties son
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
iterables y que la autodescripcin cultural tiene un objetivo
poltico.
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency V.
andLaa deconstruccin
majority in the Chamber
of Deputies
legislative house
de la cultura
mapuche(the
II: Interpenetraciones
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere,
muchsociolgico
less among
LatinAlejandro
Americas
presidential
En un estudio
reciente,
Saavedra
ha formulasystems,
Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
thedescars
of miscellaneous
do the
la siguiente
apreciacin:
La mayor
parte
la cultura
de los mapuche de
corruption
against ms
members,
including
the stripping
of tienen
hoy, y charges
sus componentes
significativos,
es la misma
cultura que
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
los chilenos y millones de seres humanos que, en el mundo actual, compargeneralten
disillusionment
that goes
withmisma
holding
the reins
of power
for 209).
so Los
importantes aspectos
de una
cultura
(Saavedra,
2002:
long. One
might
conclude,
then, ythat
themapuche
coalition se
is vuelven
simply ready
to expire.
lmites
entre
lo mapuche
lo no
difusos
e interpenetraAnyenofmuchos
these forces,
or some combination of them, could indeed
dos
aspectos.
undermine the
Concertacin,
but we do cultural
not regard
these
La frmula de interpenetracin
indica,
en unfactors
sentidoas
abstracnecessarily
devastating
to the coalitions
survival
for a number
of reasons. territo, que
las constelaciones
simblicas
no conocen
lmites geogrficos,
In the first
place,
the Chilean economy
has come
last five
toriales
o comunitarios;
concretamente
en through
este casothe
indica
que,years
se trate de
in far los
better
shape than
any of its
neighbors,
and
mapuches
o losthat
no of
mapuches,
lasSouthern
respuestasCone
no son
significativamente
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
diferentes. Especialmente la dimensin econmica, la del consumo de meConcertacin
well
be in muestran
a positionesta
in 2005
to claimque
credit
forengood
dios y lamay
esfera
familiar
caracterstica
pone
entredicho
economic
stewardship.
Next, many
of the issues
surrounding the nonla idea
de unidad cultural
de la sociedad
mapuche.
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
Interpenetracin en el espacio econmico
Los problemas econmicos a los que el gobierno debiese dedicar un
mayor esfuerzo en resolver son la pobreza y el empleo, tanto para los mapuches como para los no mapuches. No hay mayores distinciones entre ellos,
como se aprecia en el Grfico N 1.
Los datos de la encuesta Casen 2003 indican una situacin clara en
trminos de pobreza en Chile: hay ms poblacin bajo la lnea de pobreza en
las zonas rurales y, dentro de ellas, los indgenas son ms pobres. Cerca del
30% de los hogares indgenas estn bajo la lnea de pobreza, en tanto esta
cifra alcanza al 18% en la poblacin no indgena (Mideplan, 2005). Si las
condiciones concretas de existencia se representaran de modo directo en
las constelaciones simblicas, cabra esperar una diferencia significativa entre ambas. Lo que se observa en los datos de la encuesta CEP es ms bien
interpenetracin. En el espacio rural, la diferencia entre los mapuches y los

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
78
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
somewhat
since Athe
coalitions
early ZONA
yearsDE in
GRFICO
N 1:slowed
ATENCIN
DEL GOBIERNO
PROBLEMAS
PAS SEGN
government during RESIDENCIA
the 1990s.(%)
Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so60as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin,
and even its component
51
50
parties most
notably the Christian Democrats are internally
divided
46
48
over social issues, such as the 40
legal status of divorce and
45 access to birth
40
control. Finally, 40
by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
38
Pobreza
37
presidency and a majority
in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative
house
Sueldos
30
30
26
Empleo
elected by popular vote) for 1625years. By the standards of multiparty
28
Inflacin
coalitions20 anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
10 charges
7 against members,
7
corruption
including the8 stripping of
4
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment
that goes with holding the reins of power for so
Mapuche urbano No mapuche urbano Mapuche rural
No mapuche rural
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
no mapuches no es significativa (51% y 45% respectivamente). Se advierte
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
incluso que la mayor distancia se da al interior de los mapuches segn su
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
lugar de residencia: urbano (37%) o rural (51%). En el empleo, las tendencias
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
son similares a la apreciacin de la pobreza. En los sueldos y las alzas de
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
precio o inflacin, las respuestas prcticamente no establecen diferencias
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
entre los mapuches y los no mapuches, sean urbanos o rurales. Podra
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonpensarse que las escasas diferencias entre ambas poblaciones su interpedemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
netracin se deben a que el tema de referencia son los problemas del pas,
sin embargo la tendencia se mantiene cuando se trata de los problemas de
los mapuches. El Grfico N 2 muestra esta interpenetracin de visiones. La
pobreza se mantiene en primer lugar sin variaciones significativas, lo mismo
acontece con el empleo y con el acceso al crdito y la asistencia tcnica. Es
en los ltimos dos casos donde nuevamente la distincin urbano/rural introduce diferencias: la poblacin rural valora en mayor proporcin que la
urbana el empleo y el acceso al crdito como los problemas de los mapuches a los que el gobierno debe prestar atencin.
En un estudio del ao 2003, el PNUD ha constatado altas inequidades entre la poblacin mapuche y no mapuche especialmente en la regin
de la Araucana, la de menor desarrollo relativo en el pas (PNUD, 2003). Las
diferencias que entrega el ndice de desarrollo humano para ambas poblaciones son altas en las dimensiones de salud, educacin e ingresos. En esta
ltima dimensin hay 13% ms de pobreza y 60% menos de ingreso per
cpita. La propia encuesta CEP indica que slo un 25% de los mapuches

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
79
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowedATENCIN
somewhat
since the coalitions early years in
GRFICO N 2:
DEL GOBIERNO A PROBLEMAS MAPUCHES SEGN ZONA DE
government during the
1990s.
Moreover,
the coalition itself was initially
RESIDENCIA (%)
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
40
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most
notably the Christian Democrats
are37internally divided
35
37
34
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
30
33
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the 31
Concertacin30will have held the
presidency25and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
26
Pobreza
25
elected by20popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
Empleo
Acceso a crdito
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
15
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
10 charges against members, 13
corruption
including the stripping of
10
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies in 2002, and the
5
7
5
general disillusionment
that goes
with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might Mapuche
conclude,
thaturbano
the coalition
ready
urbano then,
No mapuche
Mapuche ruralis simply
No mapuche
rural to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
rurales trabaja a tiempo completo (los urbanos lo hacen en un 44%). Como
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
en el caso anterior, estas condiciones concretas de existencia, sin embargo,
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
no se traducen directamente en expresiones simblicas diferenciadas para
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
ambos grupos. En relacin con nuestro problema, ello indica dos cuestioemployment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
nes: la autonoma de las representaciones simblicas en relacin con las
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
prcticas y la interpenetracin entre los mapuches y los no mapuches en
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the noncuanto a sus visiones de pas y tnicas en aspectos econmicos.
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
La confianza en empresas tambin muestra la interpenetracin en
temas relacionados con lo econmico: mapuches y no mapuches urbanos
confan menos que los rurales en las grandes empresas (22% y 23% para los
primeros; 34% y 36% para los segundos, respectivamente). En cuanto a la
confianza en pequeas y medianas empresas sta se mantiene prcticamente constante en el espacio urbano (45% y 47% respectivamente en el mismo
orden de los grficos). Una mayor diferencia entre poblaciones se da en el
mbito rural. Ah los mapuches alcanzan un 43% de confianza, mientras que
los no mapuches un 52%. De cualquier modo, las diferencias no logran
altos niveles como para poner en duda la interpenetracin simblica en este
campo.
Es en el anlisis de las causas de la pobreza mapuche donde pueden
apreciarse con claridad las zonas de mayor o menor interpenetracin en las
formulaciones simblicas de las respectivas poblaciones. El Grfico N 3
muestra un panorama general a este respecto.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
80
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
somewhat
sinceMAPUCHE
the coalitions
early years in
GRFICO
N 3:slowed
CAUSAS
DE LA POBREZA
(%)
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
Falta de educacin
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Poco
empleo
might naturally weaken.
In addition, the50Concertacin,
and
even its component
Padres pobres
parties most notably the Christian 40Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status
of divorce and access to birth
30
Malaby
suerte
control. Finally,
the 2005 elections,20the Concertacin Falta
will ayuda
havegobierno
held the
10 of Deputies (the legislative house
presidency and a majority in the Chamber
elected by popular vote) for 16 years.
By the standards of multiparty
0
Malaspresidential
polticas
coalitions
anywhere, much less among Latin Americas
Falta de generosidad
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary rights
from five of the coalitions deputies
in economa
2002, and the
Abusos
Vicios
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
Flojera
long. One might conclude, then,
that the coalition
is simply ready to expire.
Discriminacin
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
No mapuche rural
No mapuche urbano
Mapuche rural
Mapuche urbano
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
Tres grandes
reaseconomy
pueden has
apreciarse
aqu: lathe
asociada
temas de
In the first place,
the Chilean
come through
last fivea years
discriminacin
(discriminacin,
flojera,
vicios
y
alcoholismo,
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, falta
and de
generosidad
de
los
que
tienen
ms),
la
vinculada
a
temas
de
poltica
pbliemployment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
ca (falta de educacin, pocas oportunidades de empleo, falta de ayuda
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
econmica del gobierno, malas polticas econmicas de gobierno), y la
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonrelacionada a los individuos (padres pobres, mala suerte). En el rea de
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
discriminacin, los no mapuches rurales tienden a pensar que la pobreza
mapuche no se debe a la discriminacin (16%); son sin embargo tambin
quienes en mayor proporcin opinan que aquella se produce por la flojera,
los vicios y alcoholismo que tendra este grupo tnico (respectivamente
36% y 28%). Es decir, los no mapuches rurales son los ms discriminatorios,
pero no se perciben como tal. Se trata de lo que en nuestros trminos podra
ser calificado como una inconsistencia en las expresiones simblicas de los
no mapuches rurales.
En un estudio clsico sobre los mapuches, Milan Stuchlik ya haba
llamado la atencin sobre este estereotipo. Lo denomin el perodo de los
indios flojos y borrachos (Stuchlik, 1974), cuyo inicio sita el autor a fines
del siglo XIX luego de la llegada de la inmigracin europea. La evaluacin
de Stuchlik, de hace ms de treinta aos, sigue teniendo vigencia: en ciertas condiciones histricas la sociedad chilena misma empez a adscribir
importancia a estos dos rasgos, porque a travs de ellos poda lograr una
explicacin simple y fcil del porqu de la situacin econmica postergada
en que se encuentran los mapuche y que en realidad la culpa no est en la

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
81
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
since
theproducciones,
coalitions early
years
in
sociedad
mayor, en
el rgimen
de las
sino en
los mapuche
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
mismos (Stuchlik, 1974: 44). Con su idea de estereotipo, Stuchlik buscaba
galvanized
around
to culturales
the Pinochet
regime
of these1970s
demostrar
queopposition
los cambios
en los
mapuches
debanand
menos a
1980s,cambios
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
reales que a las evaluaciones de lo que llamaba la sociedad mayor.
might naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
andpor
even
its component
El problema
con ello
es que treinta
aos despus,
efecto
de la interpeneparties tracin
mostsimblica,
notably the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
no son pocos los mapuches que tambin lodivided
observan de
over social
issues,14%
suchde
as los
theque
legalviven
status
divorce
and access
este modo:
enofzonas
urbanas
y 21% to
debirth
los que lo
control.hacen
Finally,
by therurales
2005 elections,
the Concertacin
will
held the 16%
en zonas
as lo indican
para los vicios
y elhave
alcoholismo;
presidency
and a majority
in the
Chamber
of Deputies
(the respecto
legislative
de mapuches
urbanos
y 15%
de rurales
lo afirman
dehouse
la flojera y
electedfalta
by de
popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
iniciativa. Para los no mapuches la situacin es similar para los
coalitions
anywhere,
less among
Latin
Americas
urbanos
y mayor much
en los rurales:
16% de
los no
mapuchespresidential
urbanos y 28% de
systems,
Concertacin
is geriatric,
the scars son
of miscellaneous
losthe
rurales
piensan que
los vicios bearing
y el alcoholismo
causa de la pobreza
mapuche,
mientras
que unmembers,
21% de losincluding
urbanos y the
un 36%
de los rurales
la
corruption
charges
against
stripping
of
atribuyenrights
a la flojera
y falta
parliamentary
from five
of de
theiniciativa.
coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
En lo referido
las cuestiones
de poltica
pblica,
la falta
general disillusionment
thatagoes
with holding
the reins
of power
for de
soeducacin
como
causa
de
la
pobreza
no
introduce
distinciones
mayores,
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire. como
tampoco
lo haceforces,
la evaluacin
de las polticas
gobierno.
La escaAny of these
or somegeneral
combination
of them,decould
indeed
sez dethe
empleo
y la falta debut
ayuda
muestran
menorasinterpeundermine
Concertacin,
wedel
dogobierno
not regard
theseuna
factors
netracin
en el espacio
rural entresurvival
los mapuches
y los no
mapuches. En
necessarily
devastating
to the coalitions
for a number
of reasons.
ambos
casos
los
primeros
escapan
a
la
tendencia
general,
cualquier
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last fivede
years
modo,
por
bajos
porcentajes
de
diferencia.
Finalmente,
en
causas
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, andms de
tipo individual
o familiar,
diferencias
alcanzan
ser2003.
sustantivas.
employment
and growth
figureslas
rebounded
in no
first
monthsa of
The Ello
muestra
que
en
este
tipo
de
cuestiones
la
interpenetracin
simblica
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for goodes alta,
es decir,
la situacin
se evala
y menos the
culturalmente.
economic
stewardship.
Next,
manyms
of individualmente
the issues surrounding
nonEn conexin con este ltimo punto, aparecen tambin las expectatidemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
vas familiares respecto del trabajo futuro de los hijos. Los cuatro grupos
aspiran indistintamente a que sus hijos o hijas tengan una profesin (alrededor del 80% por sobre otras alternativas que en general no pasan del 10%
oficio, oficinista, comerciante, apatronado, obrero, temporero). La Tabla
N 1 muestra los porcentajes respectivos.

TABLA N 1:

ACTIVIDAD DESEADA PARA HIJOS E HIJAS SEGN GRUPO Y ZONA DE


RESIDENCIA (%)

Hija
Profesin
Oficinista/secretaria
Hijo
Profesin
Oficio

Mapuche
urbano

No mapuche
urbano

Mapuche rural

No mapuche
rural

85
7

86
6

71
11

77
8

85
5

84
4

69
13

76
13

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
82
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
slowed
somewhat
sincela diferencia
the coalitions
early
Como
claramente
se aprecia,
no viene
dadayears
por la in
distingovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initiallyurbacin mapuche/no mapuche, sino fundamentalmente por la distincin
galvanized
opposition
Pinochet regime
of thede1970s
and su
no/rural.around
En ambos
espaciostolathe
interpenetracin
simblica
los grupos,
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
indistincin, es alta. La poco significativa diferencia entre mapuche y no
might
naturallyenweaken.
In addition,
Concertacin,
and segunda
even its component
mapuche
el medio
rural se the
desplaza
hacia una
alternativa en
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
cada caso: que los hijos tengan un oficio y que las internally
hijas sean divided
secretarias.
overDel
social
issues,
such
as
the
legal
status
of
divorce
and
access
to
carcter de todos modos tcnico de esta segunda alternativa birth
se puede
control.
Finally,
by the 2005
elections,
the Concertacin
heldelthe
inferir que tambin
esperaran
una profesin
para suswill
hijoshave
e hijas;
oficio
presidency
a majority
in the
Chamber
of Deputies
(the legislative
house
en estosand
casos
aparecera
como
la opcin
ante la dificultad
de lo primero.
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
Interpenetracin en relacin con los medios de comunicacin
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
Lo que ms all de los crculos acadmicos se sabe en Chile de los
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
mapuches, se sabe por los medios de comunicacin de masas. Desde los
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
aos noventa en adelante, la imagen construida ha estado especialmente
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
asociada a las protestas por la propiedad de la tierra (Garca, 2004). ResultaAny of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
do de esto es la vinculacin entre hechos de fuerza y lo mapuche a travs
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
de la categora meditica de conflicto mapuche (Amolef, 2004). La incipiente
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
produccin meditica filomapuche, fundamentalmente expuesta a travs de
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
internet, rechaza la configuracin pblica del tema (en Chile y Argentina) en
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
dos sentidos: que sea un problema slo de los ltimos aos y que est
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
manejado por agentes externos, sea que se trate de otros movimientos indConcertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
genas en Amrica Latina o de infiltrados polticos (Maniqueo, 2003). Eneconomic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nontiende, por tanto, esta idea de conflicto como una forma de oscurecer el
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
carcter endgeno e histrico de los problemas de tierras.
No es materia de anlisis aqu determinar si hay o no conspiracin
meditica tras la idea de conflicto mapuche o si los medios pueden dejar de
informar sobre determinados hechos que les parezcan noticiosos. Informan
tambin sistemticamente sobre hechos de corrupcin o pedofilia y pocos
derivaran de ello una conspiracin contra corruptos o pedfilos. El foco de
la observacin meditica filomapuche es ms bien poltico y se centra en las
consecuencias de entender las cosas de este modo: la solucin del as
llamado conflicto mapuche pasa por [revertir] el despojo de sus tierras
ancestrales, adems de estar indirectamente instigando a las autoridades de
gobierno sobre la necesidad de establecer mecanismos legales acordes que
faciliten el despojo territorial de los mapuches (Maniqueo, 2003). En la
seccin VII observamos que de este tipo de aproximaciones se deriva el alto
rendimiento poltico del concepto de cultura. De todos modos, si para el
comn de los mapuches las cosas se representaran de ese modo, su confianza o desconfianza en los medios de comunicacin debiese ser sensible-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
83
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasdistinta
slowed
sincenothe
coalitions
early years
mente
a lasomewhat
de la poblacin
mapuche,
especialmente
en elinmbito
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
rural que es donde se escenifica el problema entre agentes de ambos grugalvanized
around
to the
Pinochet
regime
of theque
1970s
and con
pos. La
Tablaopposition
N 2 muestra
algunos
datos
al respecto
sostienen
1980s,claridad
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
la interpenetracin simblica en este tema.
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
TABLAissues,
N 2:
CONFIANZA
EN MEDIOS
Y ZONA DE
over social
such
as the legal
statusDEofCOMUNICACIN
divorce and SEGN
accessGRUPO
to birth
RESIDENCIA
(%)
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
No mapuche
Mapuche
No mapuche
elected by popular vote) forMapuche
16 years. By
the standards
of rural
multiparty
urbano
urbano
rural
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
Confianza
en prensa
Confacharges against members,
21
24
8
corruption
including
the 3stripping
of3 9
No confa
76
7
parliamentary
rights from five of7 8the coalitions
deputies in 52002,
and the5 8
generalConfianza
disillusionment
that goes with holding the reins of power for so
en tv
2 3 the coalition
2 5 is simply ready
4 4 to expire. 4 7
long. OneConfa
might conclude, then, that
No confa
75
75
Any of these forces, or some combination of them,5 4could indeed5 1
undermine
theenConcertacin,
but we do not regard these factors as
Confianza
radio
Confa
5
0
5 3 for a number
6 6 of reasons.6 7
necessarily devastating to the coalitions
survival
No confa
48
46
32
31
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
employment and
figures
reboundeddeinlafirst
months of 2003.
The
Paragrowth
una mejor
visualizacin
interpenetracin
en los
sectores
Concertacin
may
well
be
in
a
position
in
2005
to
claim
credit
for
good
urbanos y rurales entre mapuches y no mapuches, puede observarse el
economic
stewardship.
Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonGrfico
N 4.
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
GRFICO N 4:

CONFIANZA EN MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIN SEGN ZONA DE RESIDENCIA (%)

90
80
70
60

Confa en prensa
No confa en prensa
Confa en TV
No confa en TV
Confa en radio
No confa en radio

50
40
30
20
10
Mapuche urbano

No mapuche
urbano

Mapuche rural

No mapuche
rural

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
84
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
slowed en
somewhat
sinceque,
the tanto
coalitions
early years
Se advierte
primer lugar
los mapuches
como in
los no
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
mapuches, rurales y urbanos, desconfan mayormente de la prensa
y la TV y
galvanized
opposition
to the
the desconfianza
1970s and es
tienden around
a confiar
en la radio.
En Pinochet
el espacioregime
urbanoofesta
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
notoriamente mayor, al contrario de lo que sucede con la confianza en la
might
naturally
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and even
its component
radio,
cuyosweaken.
porcentajes
alcanzan
al 66% (mapuche)
y 67%
(no mapuche)
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
en el sector rural. Tanto la confianza como la desconfianza en ladivided
prensa y la
overTV
social
issues,
such
as
the
legal
status
of
divorce
and
access
to
birthentre
en el espacio urbano se comportan prcticamente del mismo modo
control.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
los mapuches y los no mapuches: las curvas no se separan por msthe
de dos
presidency
a majorityEn
in the
Chamber
(theeslegislative
house de
puntos and
porcentuales.
el sector
rural,oflaDeputies
separacin
mnima respecto
elected
by popular (1%
vote)
16 years.
the 3%
standards
of multiparty
la desconfianza
en for
relacin
con la By
prensa;
en relacin
con la TV; 1%
coalitions
anywhere,
much yless
among
Latin Americas
en relacin
con la radio)
sucede
algo similar
en relacin presidential
con la confianza
systems,
thetres
Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
en los
medios.
corruptionNotoria
charges
against
members,
including
the stripping of
es nuevamente
la diferencia
en el comportamiento
de los
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
and de
thecondatos entre lo rural y lo urbano. En ambos espacios in
la 2002,
gradiente
general
disillusionment
that goespero
withlosholding
the reins
power for soen el
fianza
es: radio-TV-prensa,
porcentajes
subenofnotoriamente
long.espacio
One might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
expire.
rural, es decir, se confa en los medios ms ah quetoen
la ciudad;
Any
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
could
indeed
inversamente los niveles de desconfianza son menores. Al focalizar
la obundermine
theen Concertacin,
we do not regard
these factors
servacin
el sector rural, labut
interpenetracin
de las opiniones
llama as
ms la
necessarily
to thela coalitions
survival
for a number
of reasons.
atencindevastating
si se considera
idea meditica
de conflicto
mapuche,
que justaIn the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
fiveEllo
years
mente tiene lugar entre los mapuches y los no mapuches rurales.
puede
in farindicar
betterdos
shape
thanque
that
of grupo
any ofatiende
its Southern
Cone neighbors,
and su
cosas:
cada
a los medios
que representan
employment
figures
first months
The para
posicin and
o quegrowth
la misma
idea rebounded
de conflictoinmapuche
no es of
tan2003.
relevante
Concertacin
well
be in a position
2005 toseclaim
credit
good
el comn may
de los
mapuches
y que losinmedios
valoran
porfor
otro
tipo de
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
informaciones que puedan entregar. La primera alternativa es ms nondifcil de
democratic
legacy
of the Pinochet
era hegemnica
includingdethe
renowned mesostener dada
la cobertura
ms o menos
determinados
dios. La existencia de medios regionales tampoco pareciera entregar sustento a esta posibilidad, precisamente por la concentracin de la propiedad
(Marn y Cordero, 2005). La segunda alternativa (que la idea de conflicto no
es relevante en la evaluacin de los medios y que ellos se valoran por otras
informaciones) parece ms plausible y es concordante con la alta confianza
que muestra la radio en medios rurales, cuya entrega de informacin incluso
alcanza a mensajes personalizados de alta utilidad para zonas apartadas.
Una forma de visualizar esta hiptesis a partir de los datos de la
encuesta es la siguiente. Si el carcter instrumental de los medios, orientado
a debilitar el movimiento mapuche contenido en la categora meditica de
conflicto mapuche, fuese claro para la poblacin mapuche rural, entonces
se puede esperar que aquellos mapuches que justifican el uso de la fuerza
para reclamar tierras (presumiblemente los ms favorables a la recuperacin
de ellas) debieran mostrar mayor desconfianza en los medios que los no
mapuches que no la justifican. La Tabla N 3 muestra esta relacin.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
85
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
slowedCONFIANZA
somewhat
since
theSEGN
coalitions
early
years
inPOR
TABLA
N 3:
EN LOS
MEDIOS
JUSTIFICA
USO DE
FUERZA
government during theGRUPO
1990s.
Moreover,
the coalition
itself was initially
Y ZONA
DE RESIDENCIA
(%)
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling
force of that initial
Mapuche rural
No motivation
mapuche rural
might naturally weaken. In addition,
the
Concertacin,
and
even
its component
Justifica
No justifica
Justifica
No justifica
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Confianza en prensa
control. Finally,
the Concertacin
will4 have
held the3 7
Confa by the 2005 elections,
43
35
3
No and
confaa majority in the Chamber
57
65
57
presidency
of Deputies
(the legislative
house6 3
en TV
electedConfianza
by
popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
Confa
46
43
48
48
coalitions
much less
No anywhere,
confa
5 4 among Latin
5 7 Americas
5 2 presidential5 2
Confianza
en radio
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
Confa
67
65
67
69
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the 3stripping
of3 1
No confa
33
35
3
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
se observa
primera
columna of
para
el caso
de la
prensa y la
Any ofSithese
forces,slo
or la
some
combination
them,
could
indeed
TV,
se
podra
afirmar
que
los
mapuches
rurales
en
general
perciben
un
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
carcter
antagnico
en
los
medios
y
por
ello
mayormente
desconfan.
Pero
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
luegoplace,
se aprecia
que loseconomy
no mapuches
se comportan
prcticamente
del misIn the first
the Chilean
has come
through the
last five years
mo
modo.
Ms
an,
para
el
caso
de
la
prensa,
los
mapuches
rurales
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and que
justifican
uso de la
fuerzarebounded
(primera columna),
desconfan
de ellaThe
en menor
employment
andelgrowth
figures
in first months
of 2003.
proporcin
(57%)
que
los
no
mapuches
rurales
que
estn
en
desacuerdo
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
con su
uso (63%, ltima
columna).
Es decir
mapuches ms
a
economic
stewardship.
Next, many
of the
issueslossurrounding
the favorables
nonla
recuperacin
de
tierras
confan
en
la
prensa
ms
que
los
no
mapuches
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
que desaprueban el uso de la fuerza. La categora meditica de conflicto
mapuche no opera como factor relevante en la evaluacin de los medios
para la generalidad de los mapuches. Tampoco lo hace en relacin con la TV
y menos en la radio, donde la interpenetracin es casi absoluta.
Que el conflicto mapuche como descripcin meditica no haga diferencia en la evaluacin de los medios no significa que el conflicto mismo
sea irrelevante. Ello est a la base del empleo de la cultura como concepto
poltico. Pero s permite indicar que los mapuches no observan los medios
slo bajo este registro y que su evaluacin de ellos no difiere de la que hace
la poblacin no mapuche. En nuestros trminos, la interpenetracin en esta
dimensin es alta e incluso puede aumentar con el acceso a internet. Segn
indicadores de la encuesta CASEN 2003, un 70,2% de hombres mapuches de
12 a 19 aos accede a computador y un 67% tiene conexin a internet; en
las mujeres estas cifras son similares: 69,6% y 63,1% respectivamente (Mideplan, 2005). Poco se puede predecir de su uso, salvo que ste se asocia
estrechamente a los niveles educativos, y entre los pueblos indgenas de

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
86
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasmapuches
slowed somewhat
early
years
in Sin
Chile los
son los con since
menos the
aoscoalitions
de escolaridad
(INE
, 2005).
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
embargo, los efectos interpenetracionistas de esta tecnologa, la vinculagalvanized
to thesimblicas
Pinochet de
regime
of the
1970s and que
cin a around
diversasopposition
constelaciones
carcter
supranacional
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
posibilita, slo pueden aumentar la iterabilidad cultural de lo que se juzga
might
naturally
In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
como
propioweaken.
e inconmovible.
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Interpenetracin
la familia
y la the
mantencin
de pautas
control.
Finally, by theen2005
elections,
Concertacin
will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
concepto
la antropologa,
ademsofdel
concepto de
elected by Otro
popular
vote) clave
for 16deyears.
By the standards
multiparty
cultura,
es
el
de
parentesco.
Los
estudios
de
Claude
Lvi-Strauss
son los
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
que
pusieron
el
tema
en
el
centro
de
inters
antropolgico.
La
centralidad
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
del parentesco
para
Lvi-Strauss
estribaincluding
en que permite
poner un of
lmite
corruption
charges
against
members,
the stripping
entre cultura
y naturaleza:
confieredeputies
al parentesco
su and
carcter
parliamentary
rights
from five oflo
theque
coalitions
in 2002,
the de
hecho
social no es lothat
quegoes
debe with
conservar
de la
es el movimiento
general
disillusionment
holding
thenaturaleza:
reins of power
for so
por conclude,
el cual el parentesco
se coalition
separa deissta
(Lvi-Strauss,
1968: 49).
long.esencial
One might
then, that the
simply
ready to expire.
El Any
puntoofcero
es laforces,
prohibicin
universal
del incesto:
un hombre
nicamenthese
or some
combination
of them,
could indeed
te puedethe
obtener
una mujer but
de manos
otroregard
hombre,
el cual
la cede
undermine
Concertacin,
we dodenot
these
factors
as bajo
forma
de
hija
o
de
hermana
(Lvi-Strauss,
1968:
45).
Fue
David
Schneider
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
quien
el tab,
no economy
por casarse
la hermana,
sino
por
su years
crtica de
In the
first rompi
place, the
Chilean
hascon
come
through the
last
five
distincin
cultura/naturaleza.
Schneider
mismaneighbors,
distincin and
cultura/
in farla better
shape
than that of anyPara
of its
Southernla Cone
naturaleza
es growth
cultural,figures
por lo que
ella no puede
aplicada
sociedades
employment
and
rebounded
in firstsermonths
of a2003.
The no
occidentales
derivar
ah la estructuracin
del credit
parentesco.
ste es
Concertacin
mayy well
be desde
in a position
in 2005 to claim
for good
slo
un
modelo
simblico
que
se
expresa
en
cdigos
de
comportamiento,
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonsea para legacy
parientesofconsanguneos
no consanguneos
(Schneider,
1968).
democratic
the Pinocheto era
including the
renowned
Esto por cierto cuenta para los parientes polticos, como tambin podra
contar especialmente en espacios populares latinoamericanos para amigos familiarizados (ver Valenzuela y Cousio, 2000).
Algo de esto puede apreciarse en los datos de la encuesta, como
tambin puede apreciarse que las variaciones no son mayores entre mapuches y no mapuches. El Grfico N 5 muestra estos porcentajes.
Ante la pregunta a quin considera usted sus parientes ms cercanos?, la gradiente es, tanto para mapuches urbanos y rurales: todos-familia
de la madre-familia del padre-familia esposo(a). Esto indica que la relacin
de consanguinidad no es determinante en la percepcin de la cercana familiar, pues en todos se incluye tambin a la familia del esposo o esposa, es
decir, a los parientes polticos. Probablemente por ello es la de menor valor
en las respuestas. En los mapuches rurales esta diferencia es ms notoria:
47% indica la opcin todos, seguido de la familia de la madre con un 23%.
Mapuches urbanos y rurales muestran la misma tendencia, sus apreciacio-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
87
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has Nslowed
somewhat
the SEGN
coalitions
years
in
GRFICO
5:
PARIENTES
MS since
CERCANOS
GRUPOSearly
Y ZONA
DE RESIDENCIA
(%)1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
government during the
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as50 time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally
and even its component
45 weaken. In addition, the Concertacin,
47
40
parties most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided
38
40
35
over social 35
issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have heldFamilia
the padre
30
32 in the Chamber
32
presidency and a majority
of Deputies (the legislative house
Familia madre
23
Familia esposo/a
elected by 25
popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards23 of multiparty
Todos
20
No sabe
coalitions anywhere,
17much less16among Latin
17 Americas presidential
systems, the15Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of16miscellaneous
11
corruption 10charges against members, including
the12 stripping of
8
8
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in 2002, and the
5
2
3
2
2
general disillusionment
that goes with holding the reins of power for so
No mapuche
rural to expire.
Mapuche rural
long. One mightMapuche
conclude,
thaturbano
the coalition
is simply
ready
No mapuche
urbano then,
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
nes sedevastating
observan interpenetradas.
no mapuches
urbanos
en tanto, otornecessarily
to the coalitionsLos
survival
for a number
of reasons.
gan
una
mnima
mayor
relevancia
a
la
familia
de
la
madre,
mientras
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five yearsque los
sitanthan
a la that
familia
del esposo
o esposa Cone
en tercer
lugar y and
en ltimo
in far rurales
better shape
of any
of its Southern
neighbors,
lugar aand
la del
padre.
En larebounded
comparacin
entremonths
mapuches
y no The
mapuches
employment
growth
figures
in first
of 2003.
urbanos
hay
algo
menos
de
variacin
que
en
el
mbito
rural.
Sin
embargo,
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
las
diferencias
no
son
nunca
de
alto
rango.
La
interpenetracin
simblica
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonaparecelegacy
tambinof
en the
la dimensin
democratic
Pinochetfamiliar.
era including the renowned
Por cierto no es posible evaluar la existencia de amigos familiarizados
en base a los datos de la encuesta. No obstante, una posibilidad de explorar
esta vertiente es por medio de la pregunta a quin pedira ayuda para un
mingako, construccin o reparacin de casa?, entendiendo que en una
empresa de tal naturaleza es difcil la participacin de gente con la que no se
tiene una estrecha cercana, tanto o ms que con la familia directa. Frente a
tal pregunta, en porcentajes altamente similares mapuches y no mapuches,
urbanos y rurales, indican la opcin otras personas como la ms nombrada
(en el mismo orden de los grficos para los cuatro grupos: 33%, 36%, 36% y
43%). Las otras alternativas son: familia del padre, de la madre o ambas.
Puede ser que el tipo de personas difiera en cada caso. Los residentes en
zonas urbanas pueden estar imaginando arquitectos y constructores, sin
embargo la alta homogeneidad de la serie de datos no invita a pensar en
esta alternativa y ms bien promueve la idea de un grupo de personas
cercanas con las que no hay vnculos de parentesco, pero que, sin embargo, son tanto o ms cercanas que la familia.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
88
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has
somewhat
coalitions
early ayears
in
Otroslowed
dato relevante
en el since
espaciothe
familiar
es el relativo
las opciones
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
matrimoniales. Nuevamente aqu se evidencia la alta interpenetracin entre
galvanized
around
thela1970s
and
mapuches
y no opposition
mapuches, atolothe
quePinochet
se agregaregime
en esteofcaso
prcticamente
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
inexistente diferencia por zonas de residencia (al menos no estadsticamente
might
naturally weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and even its component
significativa).
La Tabla
N 4 da cuenta
de esta informacin.
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
TABLA N 4:
CASAMIENTO POR EL CIVIL Y LA IGLESIA SEGN GRUPO Y ZONA DE
presidency
and a majority
in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
RESIDENCIA (%)
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
urbano
No mapuche
Mapuche rural No mapuche rural
systems, the ConcertacinMapuche
is geriatric,
bearing
the scars
of miscellaneous
urbano
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
Se cas por el
civil from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
parliamentary
rights
S
98
98
98
96
generalNodisillusionment that goes
with holding
the reins of
power for so
2
2
2
4
long.SeOne
conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
casmight
por la iglesia
S
61
5 7 could indeed
59
Any of these forces, or5 8some combination
of them,
No
42
39
43
41
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
in far betterFinalmente,
shape thanenthat
of any of
Southern Cone
neighbors,
andque a
lo relativo
a laitsmantencin
de pautas,
es claro
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
los mapuches les preocupa ms (89% urbanos, 87% rurales) que a los no
Concertacin
be in69%
a position
to claim
credit mapuche.
for good Sin
mapuchesmay
(74%well
urbanos,
rurales)inla2005
prdida
de la cultura
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
non- ms
embargo, cuando ambos grupos son interrogados por las prcticas
democratic
legacy
of
the
Pinochet
era
including
the
renowned
importantes para mantener la cultura mapuche, las valoraciones de las alternativas son prcticamente idnticas. Dada la experiencia, los conocimientos,
la socializacin en el espacio simblico mapuche, se debiese esperar que en
lo relativo a la mantencin de pautas se apreciara una diferencia alta entre
ambos grupos. El Grfico N 6 muestra, por el contrario, una interpenetracin casi perfecta entre ellos.
Notable es que slo en tres de las trece opciones exista una diferencia, en cualquier caso no significativa, entre 3 y 5 puntos porcentuales entre
los mapuches y los no mapuches. La opcin que no se discrimine a los
mapuches arroja 32% para mapuches y 35% para no mapuches; el reconocimiento constitucional indica 32% y 27% respectivamente, y casarse o formar familia entre mapuches muestra un 14% para los primeros y un 17% para
los segundos. En todas las otras opciones, la diferencia es de un punto o
inexistente, la interpenetracin se hace evidente.
Sobre la base de estos ltimos datos ha sido construido un ndice
para determinar, en relacin con la variable edad, dnde se encuentran las

ab
la
Co r ma
no pu
Q
ce ch
ue
no r h e
Re
co
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ie
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Es to
ta con a tie
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r
en titu ra
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ue al
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tie
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Re Part ars n c
so ici e e om as
nt un
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n
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ud
ad

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
89
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowedELEMENTOS
somewhat
since the coalitions early years in
GRFICO N 6:
PARA MANTENER CULTURA MAPUCHE SEGN GRUPO (%)
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as60time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
50
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social 40
issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Mapuche
control. Finally,
the
30 by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have heldNo
mapuche
presidency and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
20
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
10
coalitions anywhere,
much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the0Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
2. El Grfizonasplace,
de mayor
interpenetracin
entrecome
mapuches
y no
In the first
the Chilean
economy has
through
themapuches
last five years
N 7shape
muestra
interpenetracin
los mapuches
y los no and
mapuches
in far co
better
thanlathat
of any of itsentre
Southern
Cone neighbors,
segn tramos
de edad
para las
tres dimensiones
construidas.
employment
and growth
figures
rebounded
in first months
of 2003. The
primera
es in
que2005
la interpenetracin
para los
Concertacin La
may
well beconstatacin
in a position
to claim credit es
foralta
good
tres
tramos
de
edad,
pertenecer
o
no
a
la
etnia
mapuche
no
constituye
un
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonelemento
decisivo
imagen que
se including
construye parathe
las tres
dimensiones,
democratic
legacy
of en
thela Pinochet
era
renowned
como por lo dems ya se haba mostrado en el Grfico N 6. Analizadas por
separado, ellas expresan algunas diferencias mnimas. La territorialidad es
menos relevante entre los ms jvenes, la interpenetracin en ellos en este
aspecto es plena. Para esta dimensin, los datos muestran una separacin
entre los de 55 aos y ms: los mapuches mayores consideran la territorialidad ms relevante que los no mapuches de su misma edad. La interpenetracin ah es algo menor que en los ms jvenes. Los componentes de la
2 El ndice, realizado de manera simple sobre la base de suma de porcentajes,
agrupa las alternativas de respuesta en tres dimensiones: territorialidad (compuesta por:
vivir del trabajo de la tierra, vivir en una comunidad mapuche, casarse o formar familia
entre mapuches, que los mapuches no se vayan a vivir a la ciudad), esfera poltica
(compuesta por: que el estado entregue tierras a los mapuches, que en las oficinas
pblicas los trmites se puedan hacer en lengua mapuche, que la Constitucin reconozca
a los mapuches, que no se discrimine a los mapuches, que los conflictos entre mapuche se
puedan resolver de acuerdo a sus costumbres) y esfera simblica (compuesta por: hablar
la lengua mapuche, conocer la historia del pueblo mapuche, participar en ceremonias o
ritos mapuches, tener acceso a lugares para la celebracin de ceremonias y ritos).

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
90
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
somewhat
since the SEGN
coalitions
early years
in
GRFICO
N 7:slowed
NDICE
DE INTERPENETRACIN
EDAD Y GRUPOS
(%)
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as
100time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats
are internally
divided
93
92
91
92
over social issues,
such as the legal status
91 of divorce and access to birth
90
91
90
88 2005 elections, the Concertacin
control. Finally, by the
will87have held the
presidency and a majority85in the Chamber86of Deputies (the legislative
house
85
elected by popular vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
83
83
80
80
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin
Americas
presidential
79
systems, the Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of
miscellaneous
74
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
70 rights from73five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
parliamentary
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
60 these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
Any of
30-54
55 y ms
18-29
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating Territorialidad
to the coalitions
survivalTerritorialidad
for a number
of reasons.
mapuche
no mapuche
In the first place, the Chilean
has come Poltica
through
the last five years
no mapuche
Poltica economy
mapuche
Simblica
no mapuche
in far better shape thanSimblica
that ofmapuche
any of its Southern
Cone
neighbors, and
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
dimensin simblica operan de modo contrario: la interpenetracin es menor
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonen los jvenes de 18 a 29; entre los de 30 y ms las variables contenidas en
democratic
legacy
of theentre
Pinochet
era yincluding
renowned
ella no hacen
diferencia
mapuches
no mapuches.the
Es decir,
lo simblico adquiere mayor relevancia en los ms jvenes. Finalmente, en lo referido a lo poltico se mantiene una distancia para los tres tramos de edad, la
que incluso se abre algo ms en el tercer tramo.
La edad permite hacer algunas diferencias menores en los niveles de
interpenetracin, pero tampoco se constituye en una variable que opere
sistemticamente en las tres dimensiones. Para algunas situaciones ser joven
predice menor interpenetracin, para otras, mayor interpenetracin, y viceversa. Ello da algunos indicios de la inconsistencia en las construcciones
simblicas (seccin VI), as como tambin la mayor distancia observada en
la dimensin poltica permite vislumbrar el empleo de la cultura como concepto poltico (seccin VII).
Desde sus formulaciones clsicas la antropologa ha recurrido al
concepto de aculturacin para indicar la prdida de lo propio y la creciente
homogeneidad entre grupos de distinta trayectoria histrica o tnica (Herskovits, 1958). Su rendimiento principal es indicar que una cultura dominante

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
91
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
since the
coalitions
early
in sus
introduce
sus rasgos
en una cultura
minoritaria,
la que
por years
ello pierde
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
elementos caractersticos y tiende a igualarse a la primera. Subyace siempre
galvanized
around
opposition
to todo
the Pinochet
of ythetotal
1970s
andimpone
la idea
de cultura
como un
unificado,regime
coherente
que se
1980s,oso
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
se desintegra.
might naturally
In addition,detheformulaciones
Concertacin, simblicas,
and even its component
Laweaken.
interpenetracin
en cambio, tiene
parties como
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided
horizonte la iterabilidad de las observaciones
individuales
y el moviover social
issues,
such
as the legal
status of divorce
and access
to birth somiento
siempre
desplazante
e inaprensible
de diferentes
constelaciones
control.ciales
Finally,
by the 2005
elections, no
theseConcertacin
will cambia.
have held
the
emergentes.
Lo mapuche
acaba, sino que
Mediante
el
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
concepto de aculturacin el problema se pospone indefinidamente. Con l
electedhabra
by popular
vote) que
for los
16 mapuches
years. Byenthe
standards
of multiparty
que concluir
Chile
se chilenizan,
como si en lo
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
chileno tambin existiera algo propio, unificado y coherente que no fuese a
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
the oriental
scars ofymiscellaneous
la vez
latinoamericano,
occidental,
tambin
en ltima instancia
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the stripping
of
universal. Habra que concluir tambin que los mapuches
en Argentina
se
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
argentinizan y preguntarse si eso los hace mapuche diferentes. Si se tratara
generaldedisillusionment
that goes
with holding
the reins
of ltimos
power for
so referiaculturacin, habra
igualmente
que pensar
que los
datos
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
dos a la mantencin de la cultura mapuche (Grfico N 6) indican que son
Any of
forces,
or some
of them,
could indeed
stos
los these
que han
aculturado
de combination
tan buen modo
a los chilenos
que hoy ya
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as en las
no pueden apreciarse diferencias significativas entre ambos
grupos
necessarily
devastating
to the
coalitions
survival
number of reasons.
valoraciones
de las
prcticas
centrales
paraforlaapreservacin
de lo que se
In the first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
yearsacultujuzga propio. La hiptesis sera revolucionaria: un grupo minoritario
in far ra
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and estos
al dominante. La interpenetracin simblica, en cambio, observa
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
desplazamientos sin dramas conceptuales, como parte de los movimientos
Concertacin
mayenwell
in a position
in 2005
to claim
credit for good
de sentido
unabesociedad
mundial
compleja
y diferenciada,
e invita a
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
they nonentender las diversas constelaciones simblicas heterrquica
contingendemocratic
legacy
of the
Pinochet elerahecho
including
thesus
renowned
temente,
es decir,
reconociendo
de que por
constantes encuentros y desencuentros estn siendo permanentemente de otro modo.

VI. La deconstruccin de la cultura mapuche III: Inconsistencias


Mientras el concepto de interpenetracin se orienta a perfilar la relacin entre constelaciones simblicas, la idea de inconsistencia indica las
zonas de iterabilidad dentro de ellas. Nuevamente ha sido Milan Stuchlik
quien ha formulado, en relacin a los mapuches, por primera vez esta idea
con claridad: Tomando en cuenta que los mapuche hoy no constituyen
un sistema funcionante, sino ms bien una categora amplia de individuos,
delimitada por ciertos rasgos de identidad, y considerando el funcionamiento de los dos factores ya mencionados [permanencia de estructuras tradicionales y apertura hacia la sociedad global], es muy difcil formular hoy
cualquier regla estructural o norma de comportamiento con validez general,

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
92
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
slowed
somewhat
since othe
coalitions
early years
in
porquehas
todas
son objeto
de cambio
de cierta
reformulacin
(Stuchlik,
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
1974: 61-62). Cuando las cosas son as, las constelaciones simblicas cohegalvanized
opposition
to the Pinochet
regime of the 1970s and
rentes yaround
holsticas
se deconstruyen
y descentran.
1980s, so as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of thatdeinitial
motivation
Jacques Derrida ha propuesto el concepto
diffrance
para dar
might
naturally
weaken.
In
addition,
the
Concertacin,
and
even
its
cuenta de esta iterabilidad simblica: Todo concepto est component
por derecho y
parties
most notably
theenChristian
Democrats
are internally
divided
esencialmente
inscrito
una cadena
o en un sistema
en el interior
del cual
overremite
social al
issues,
the legal
status of
andsistemtico
access to birth
otro, such
a losasotros
conceptos,
pordivorce
un juego
de difecontrol.
Finally,
by thetal,
2005
elections, the
have held un
theconrencias.
Un juego
la diffrance,
ya Concertacin
no es entonceswill
simplemente
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
cepto, sino la posibilidad de la conceptualidad, del proceso y del sistema
elected
by popular
vote) for
16Podremos
years. By
thellamar
standards
of multiparty
conceptuales
en general
[]
pues
diffrance
a esta discorcoalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
dia activa, en movimiento, de fuerzas diferentes y de diferencias de fuersystems,
the Concertacin
geriatric,
miscellaneous
zas (Derrida,
1989: 46,is53).
Ningnbearing
signo esthe
en scars
s, sinoofque
se constituye en
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
significante (posibilidad de la conceptualidad) por su diferencia
conofotros,
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
por su desplazamiento y espaciamiento en relacin con otros. La significageneral
goes with
holding
the en
reins
for quedarso
cindisillusionment
nace de la praxisthat
simblica
y muere
tambin
ella.ofLepower
es difcil
long.se,
One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
le es difcil perdurar, pues en el juego sistemtico de diferencias siempre
Any ofnuevas
these forces,
or someencombination
them, could
indeed de
aparecen
posibilidades
los envos yofreenvos
significantes
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
cada encuentro y desencuentro. Por ello, como lo formulaba ms as
arriba
necessarily
devastating
to theescoalitions
survival como
for a number
reasons.
Schneider
(1997), norma
a veces no-norma,
subir es of
a veces
bajar.
In the first place,
the Chilean economy
has son
come
five years
Las inconsistencias
simblicas
el through
efecto dethe
la last
diffrance,
son su
in farexpresin,
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and que
y no pueden entenderse como vaciamiento cultural. Puesto
employment
andlugar
growth
figures rebounded
in first
months
of 2003. Thedesde
ellas tienen
acntricamente,
es posible
entrar
a su observacin
Concertacin
well La
be preocupacin
in a position por
in 2005
to claim
good es
mltiples may
rincones.
la prdida
de lacredit
culturaformapuche
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
uno de ellos. Como es de esperar, tanto a los mapuches como nona los no
democratic
Pinochet
including
the renowned
mapucheslegacy
el temaof
les the
preocupa
en altoera
grado
(88% a los primeros;
71% a los
segundos). Dado que las inconsistencias se orientan ms hacia las zonas de
iterabilidad interna, la comparacin con los no mapuches se hace innecesaria. Siendo esto as, se debiese esperar que en relacin con variables importantes para lo que se entiende como mantencin de la cultura mapuche,
quienes expresan una mayor preocupacin por su prdida respondieran afirmativamente a aquellos elementos que permitiran su mantencin, como son
la enseanza de la lengua o que los mapuches tengan mayor autonoma.
Frente a la enseanza de la lengua, por ejemplo, se muestra una alta
consistencia entre la mantencin de la cultura y la enseanza obligatoria de
la lengua mapuche. En tanto a quienes no preocupa la mantencin de la
cultura les parece que aqulla puede ser voluntaria. El Grfico N 8 muestra
esta relacin. En ste y los siguientes grficos, el nivel de consistencia de
las formulaciones se puede apreciar en los porcentajes de respuesta como
tambin, visualmente, en la representacin grfica: si sta adquiere forma de
equis o tal forma se insina, hay tendencia a la consistencia; si las lneas se
observan paralelamente, se trata de inconsistencia.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
93
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has Nslowed
somewhat
theSEGN
coalitions
early POR
years
in (%)
GRFICO
8:
ENSEANZA
DELsince
LENGUAJE
PREOCUPACIN
CULTURA
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so 80
as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
69
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and
even its component
70
60
parties most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally divided
60
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
50
control. Finally,
by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
Obligatoria
presidency40and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
Voluntaria
40
31
elected by30popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards
of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
20
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
10 charges against members, including the stripping of
corruption
parliamentary
0 rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment Preocupa
that goes with holdingNo
thepreocupa
reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the
Concertacin,
but
we do N
not6,regard
these
factors entienden
as
Como
se observ en
el Grfico
lo que los
mapuches
necessarily
to the
coalitions
survival
number
reasons.
comodevastating
ms relevante
para
la mantencin
de for
su acultura
es of
hablar
la lengua.
In the first
place, the Chilean
economy has
come ythrough
the last
years que el
Investigaciones
en los mapuches
en Chile
Argentina
han five
mostrado
in far castellano
better shape
than
that que
of any
of its en
Southern
and es una
es la
lengua
aprenden
primer Cone
lugar; neighbors,
el mapuzugun
employment
and
growth
first months
of 2003.
The que
segunda
lengua
quefigures
ocupa,rebounded
cuando seinemplea,
dominios
restringidos
Concertacin
well be adems
in a position
in 2005
to claim
credit for
pueden may
identificarse,
del marco
religioso
tradicional,
en good
la familia o
economic
many
of the
issues surrounding
the nonen elstewardship.
mejor de los Next,
casos en
grupos
de amigos
(Canuti, Gianelli
y Vallega,
democratic
legacy
of tanto
the Pinochet
era including
the renowned
2004: 73).
Es por
coherente suponer
que si constelaciones
simblicas
tradicionales son significadas en la lengua nativa, exista preocupacin por
mantenerlas mediante la obligatoriedad de la enseanza de la lengua mapuche. El Grfico N 8 constata esta apreciacin. Algo menos importante para
aquellos preocupados por la mantencin de la cultura, y donde ya se muestra una relativa inconsistencia, es en la participacin en ceremonias tpicamente mapuche, como el nguillatun y el machitn. Los Grficos N 9 y N 10
muestran esta relacin.
En ambos casos, aquellos a quienes no preocupa la mantencin de la
cultura mapuche son consistentes en sus respuestas: en altos porcentajes
nunca han participado de tales rituales. Entre los que se declaran preocupados por la preservacin cultural hay un porcentaje no menor (40%) que ha
participado del nguillatun, el que se reduce cuando se trata del machitn
(29%). Aun cuando las lneas no se cruzan, tienden a la convergencia. Esto
indica que si bien hay inconsistencia, ella es menor en lo referido a la primera ceremonia y algo mayor en la segunda. Todas las otras ceremonias o

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
94
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
somewhat
since the
coalitions
early
in (%)
GRFICO
N 9:slowed
PARTICIPA
EN NGUILLATUN
SEGN
PREOCUPACIN
PORyears
CULTURA
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so 80
as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin,73and even its component
70
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
60
over social issues, such as58the legal status of divorce and access to birth
50
control. Finally,
by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
participado
presidency40and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislativeHahouse
Nunca
elected by popular vote)40for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
30
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas
presidential
26
20 Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
systems, the
corruption10 charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
No preocupa
general disillusionmentPreocupa
that goes with holding
the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
GRFICOdevastating
N 10:
PARTICIPA
MACHITN survival
SEGN PREOCUPACIN
PORof
CULTURA
(%)
necessarily
to theENcoalitions
for a number
reasons.
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
in far better
90 shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
employment
and growth figures rebounded in first81months of 2003. The
80
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
70
economic stewardship. Next,
70 many of the issues surrounding the non60 legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
democratic
50

Ha participado
Nunca

40
30
20

29

18

10
-

Preocupa

No preocupa

actividades tpicamente mapuche consultadas en la encuesta (palin, wetripantu, mingako, acudir a la machi o al lonko), menos conocidas que el
nguillatun y el machitn, se comportan como este ltimo: los interesados
en la mantencin cultural no las consideran, muestran menos inters por
participar en ellas. La inconsistencia comienza a aumentar cuando se trata
de preguntas ms especficas, por ejemplo en lo relativo a la incorporacin
de la bandera chilena en el nguillatun.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
95
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowedBANDERA
somewhat
since the coalitions early years in
GRFICO N 11:
CHILENA EN NGUILLATUN SEGN PREOCUPACIN POR
government during the
1990s.
Moreover,
the coalition itself was initially
CULTURA (%)
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
80 weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
might naturally
76
parties most
70 notably the75Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
60
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency 50
and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
Parece bien
elected by 40popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
No parece bien
coalitions 30
anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption20 charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
five of the coalitions deputies
in 2002, and the
10 rights from 14
8
general disillusionment
that goes with holding the reins of power for so
Preocupa
long. One might conclude,
then, that the coalitionNois preocupa
simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating
to the
for a number
of reasons.
En este caso,
la coalitions
tendencia asurvival
la convergencia
es mucho
menor: hay
In the first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
una alta inconsistencia simblica en que a los preocupadosfive
poryears
la mantenin far cin
betterdeshape
than that
of anyunofsmbolo
its Southern
and
la cultura
mapuche
fuerte Cone
de lo neighbors,
que la interpretacin
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
clsica llamara cultura dominante, aparezca en una ceremonia orientada a la
Concertacin
maysocial,
well be
a position
in 2005y to
claim operan
credit for
good
integracin
es in
decir,
donde accin
smbolo
conjuntamente
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
non-olvidar,
y sirven a la recreacin de la unidad de la sociedad. No se debe
democratic
legacy
of
the
Pinochet
era
including
the
renowned
adems, que un 88% de los mapuches se interesa por la preservacin de la
cultura, y slo un 8,5% no lo hace; es decir, la mayor parte de la poblacin
se concentra en los preocupados. Es a ellos a los que mayoritariamente les
parece bien la presencia de un smbolo que desde el modelo tradicional se
juzgara externo. Requiere investigacin semitica, o ms bien gramatolgica, determinar el juego sistemtico de diferencias, la diffrance, en que la
bandera adquiere significacin en el nguillatun y no slo la bandera,
sino tambin la imagen de la Virgen Mara, la lectura de pasajes bblicos, la
cueca (Foerster, 1985). Pero a juzgar por la valoracin positiva hacia ella, lo
chileno juega un rol ritual en lo mapuche. Como probablemente lo formulara
David Schneider, a veces lo externo es interno, en ocasiones lo ajeno es
propio. Se podra hablar aqu tambin de interpenetracin.
Pero no slo en una temtica especfica como es la bandera en el
nguillatun se muestra la inconsistencia e iterabilidad de las formulaciones
simblicas. Tambin emergen ellas en una dimensin de resonancia poltica
mayor como es la relativa a la integracin o autonoma de lo mapuche frente

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
96
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
slowed
somewhat
the coalitions
early
GRFICO
N 12:
AUTONOMA
SEGNsince
PREOCUPACIN
POR CULTURA
(%) years in
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
90
1980s, so
as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
80
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
75
parties most
notably 78
the Christian Democrats
are internally divided
70
over social
60 issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. 50
Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
Integrarse
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative
housems
Ms autonoma
40
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
30 anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
coalitions
systems,20the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
17
20
corruption
10 charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
Preocupa
No preocupa
general disillusionment
that goes with holding
the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
a la sociedad
chilena. Frentebut
a la we
interrogante
de si lasthese
comunidades
mapuundermine
the Concertacin,
do not regard
factors as
ches
deberan
integrarse
ms
al
resto
de
Chile
o
deberan
tener
ms
autononecessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
ma,
respuestas,
segneconomy
la preocupacin
la mantencin
de la
cultura,
In the
firstlasplace,
the Chilean
has comepor
through
the last five
years
se better
ordenan
del modo
siguiente.
in far
shape
than that
of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
se aprecia,
ambos
trazos seindisponen
paralelamente,
no conemploymentComo
and growth
figures
rebounded
first months
of 2003. The
vergen.
Comparado
ste
con
el
primer
caso
observado
la
obligatoriedad
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
de la enseanza
de laNext,
lengua,
inconsistencia
es mxima: aquellos
economic
stewardship.
manylaof
the issues surrounding
the non-a los
que preocupa
la mantencin
de la cultura
esperan una mayor
integracin a
democratic
legacy
of the Pinochet
era including
the renowned
la sociedad chilena aun cuando sea esa integracin la que con mayor probabilidad pueda debilitar su cultura.
Para la contrastacin de los niveles de inconsistencia con variables
sociodemogrficas, se construy un ndice que diferencia en inconsistencia
baja, media y alta3. Las Tablas N 5 y N 6 muestran los resultados por sexo,
zona de residencia, tramos de edad y escolaridad.
En relacin a la Tabla N 5, destaca una mayor proporcin de mujeres
con alta inconsistencia simblica, como as tambin es notable la diferencia
3 Para la construccin de este ndice se emplearon los cuatro cruces de variables
dicotmicas analizados en esta seccin que mostraban algn nivel de inconsistencia
(grficos N 9 a N 12). A cada uno de los cuatro valores del cruce se le asign un
puntaje de 1 a 2, donde 1 es inconsistencia baja y 2 inconsistencia alta. stos constituyen los indicadores del ndice. Los puntajes de los cuatro indicadores se sumaron en
todos los cruces, lo que arroj un ndice general cuyo valor mnimo es 4 y de valor
mximo 8. Estos valores se recodificaron segn el siguiente criterio: 4-5, inconsistencia
baja / 6, inconsistencia media / 7-8, inconsistencia alta.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
97
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has
somewhat
since theSEGN
coalitions
early
years in Y
TABLA
N 5:slowed
NDICE
DE INCONSISTENCIA
SEXO, ZONA
DE RESIDENCIA
TRAMOS
DEMoreover,
EDAD (%)
government during the
1990s.
the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes,
the compelling
force of that initial
motivation
Sexo
Zona de residencia
Tramos
de edad
might naturally
weaken.
In
addition,
the
Concertacin,
and
even
its
component
Hombre
Mujer
Urbano
Rural
18-29
30-54
55 y ms
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social
and
Baja issues,
1 6 such as
1 0 the legal 9status of1divorce
9
1 3 access 1to5 birth
9
control.Media
Finally,2 5by the 2005
2 1 elections,
1 7 the Concertacin
32
2will
1 have held
2 1 the 3 1
Alta and5a9 majority6in
9 the Chamber
74
48
6 5house 6 0
presidency
of Deputies
(the6 6legislative
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
TABLA N 6:
NDICE DE INCONSISTENCIA SEGN AOS DE ESCOLARIDAD (%)
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
de escolaridad
general disillusionment that goes with Aos
holding
the reins of power for so
0-3
4-8
9-12
13 y ms No contesta
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition
is simply
ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
Baja
13
16
18
0
undermine
the Concertacin,
but we
do not2 91 regard these
factors
as
Media
28
24
18
35
necessarily
of reasons.
Alta devastating to6 the
0 coalitions
6 0 survival
7 0 for a number
64
65
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
employment
growth figures
rebounded in
firstlosmonths
of 2003.
They ruraen las and
proporciones
de inconsistencia
entre
mapuches
urbanos
Concertacin
well de
be laininconsistencia
a position in baja
2005yto
claimentre
credit
goodalgo
les, y elmay
aumento
media
losfor
ltimos
economic
Next,
of todo
the issues
surrounding
the Por
nonque stewardship.
se ha apreciado
a lomany
largo de
el anlisis
de datos.
edad no
democratic
legacy
of the salvo
Pinochet
including
renowned
hay mayor
diferencia,
por laera
disminucin
de losthe
niveles
de inconsistencia simblica baja en el tramo 55 y ms y el aumento en ellos de la
inconsistencia media. La Tabla N 6, por su parte, muestra una proporcin
ms alta de inconsistencia entre 9 y 12 aos de escolaridad, es decir, entre
aquellos que accedieron o terminaron la educacin media. Asimismo, la tabla muestra una persistente tendencia a la baja del nivel medio de inconsistencia a medida que aumentan los aos de escolaridad.
No se pueden extraer conclusiones simples y unilaterales de todos
estos datos. Cuando se observa la importancia atribuida a la lengua en el
Grfico N 8, apresuradamente se puede leer una frrea defensa de la cultura; cuando se observa el Grfico N 12, otra vez apresuradamente, se puede
leer casi un deseo por olvidarla. Ambos extremos existen, como tambin
distintas situaciones intermedias ejemplificadas aqu por la participacin en
ceremonias religiosas. Y si todo ello es posible con los mismos individuos,
entonces esos individuos levitan por espacios simblicos mviles que no
ordenan el mundo coherente ni unificadamente. Ellos ms bien se enfrentan

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
98
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
since the
early
in
a significantes
que somewhat
adquieren sentido
slo coalitions
en el choque
con years
otros signifigovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
cantes en esa discordia activa en movimiento (Derrida, 2003) de smbolos
galvanized
to regionales
the Pinochet
of the 1970s
and En
que no around
conocenopposition
de fronteras
o deregime
necesariedades
histricas.
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
otras palabras, las constelaciones simblicas son inconsistentes, porque
might
naturally
weaken.
addition,
algunas
veces
no lo In
son
y otrasthe
s. Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
VII. Cultura
como
poltico
control. Finally, by the 2005
elections,
the concepto
Concertacin
will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
las conclusiones
del years.
Congreso
Mapuche
de 1997, en su
elected by En
popular
vote) for 16
By Nacional
the standards
of multiparty
primer
punto,
puede
leerse
la
siguiente
declaracin:
El
derecho
a la cultura
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
es
el
derecho
a
la
existencia
y
a
la
identidad
de
un
grupo
tnico
o pueblo,
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
por tantocharges
la primeraagainst
medida es
definir unaincluding
poltica cultural
del pueblo of
mapucorruption
members,
the stripping
che. Las medidas
econmicas
y polticas
sondeputies
fundamentales
parliamentary
rights from
five of the
coalitions
in 2002,para
and el
thedesarrollo
de nuestra identidad
tnica
y cultural
(Congreso
Mapuche,
general
disillusionment
that goes
with
holding the
reins ofNacional
power for
so
Peyser,
69). then,
La crtica
a la
culturaiscomo
concepto
long.enOne
might2003:
conclude,
that the
coalition
simply
ready totcnico
expire. de la
sociologa
y la antropologa
no puede
entenderse
crtica
al emAny of these
forces, or some
combination
of como
them, una
could
indeed
pleo semntico
del conceptobut
de cultura
formulaciones
de quienes
undermine
the Concertacin,
we do en
notlasregard
these factors
as se
autodescriben
culturalmente,
menos survival
an cuando
medianteofese
concepto
necessarily
devastating
to the coalitions
for a number
reasons.
losfirst
individuos
construir
unahas
imagen
lograda
In the
place, thelogran
Chilean
economy
come unitaria
through una
the lastficcin
five years
de than
aquello
une y que
lesneighbors,
permite afirmar
in far(Clifford)
better shape
thatque
of entienden
any of its los
Southern
Cone
and su
posicin and
frente
a otrosfigures
que sonrebounded
sealadosin
como
a loofpropio,
employment
growth
firstajenos
months
2003. es
Thedecir,
como
otros
que
se
autodescriben
por
medio
de
otra
cultura.
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
EspecialmenteNext,
en una
sociedad
creciente diferenciacin
economic stewardship.
many
of themundial
issues de
surrounding
the nonestructural
y semntica,
mundo deera
alta including
iterabilidad simblica
e individuademocratic
legacy
of theunPinochet
the renowned
lizacin, la afirmacin de un sentido de unidad grupal, histrica o poltica se
entiende como necesaria por los actores para contrarrestar las tendencias a
la fragmentacin (Larran, 2000, 2005; Mascareo, 2006). En este sentido, la
semntica cultural opera de modo contrafctico invisibilizando las diferencias, interpenetraciones e inconsistencias para resaltar la continuidad y coherencia de los mundos de vida. Entendida de esta forma, la cultura es
simblica, tiende a unir lo que est diferenciado, pero a la vez es tambin
diablica, separa esa unidad de otras, que por efecto de la separacin aparecen distintas. Slo entonces se puede hablar de lo autntico, de lo original,
de lo invariable, de lo perdurable que une a un grupo determinado, incluso
contra la vivencia psquica de que lo que ayer era, hoy ya no es. Quien
emplea la cultura en tal sentido se resiste estratgicamente al aprendizaje,
suspende la dimensin cognitiva de su observacin y se predispone a la
accin aun a pesar de la decepcin de constatar que el mundo se aparta de
las expectativas.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
99
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy hasEnslowed
somewhat
sincepoltico
the coalitions
early
years opera
in
este sentido,
el empleo
del concepto
de cultura
de
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
modo similar a la constitucin histrica en el siglo XIX de la semntica de la
galvanized
around
opposition
the Pinochet
regime
of the que
1970s
and implnacin,
en tanto
condensatoreferencias
polticas
mltiples
pueden
1980s,citamente
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
abstraerse en esta idea, no obstante supongan intereses distintos
might naturally
In addition,
Concertacin,
and para
even its
e inclusoweaken.
contradictorios:
la the
nacin
es el pueblo
el component
pueblo, la nueva
parties burguesa
most notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
para los burgueses, la aristocracia para los aristcratas
(Chernilo,
over social
as the historiografa
legal status ofmapuche
divorce ha
and
access to abirth
2006,issues,
2007). such
La naciente
comenzado
insistir socontrol.bre
Finally,
by the
elections,
have held
theCaniula frmula
de2005
nacin
mapuchethe
enConcertacin
el Wallmapu will
(Marimn,
2006;
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
queo, 2006; Levil, 2006). Con esto condensa la variabilidad tnica del origen
electedmapuche
by popular
vote)
for 16
years.como
By adaptaciones
the standardsregionales
of multiparty
que ella
misma
observa
de distintos
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
grupos indgenas en cuestiones de religiosidad, lengua, organizacin sociosystems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
the scars de
of su
miscellaneous
poltica
(Millaln, 2006),
y tambin
la variabilidad
presente principalcorruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
mente cruzado por la urbanizacin (Levil, 2006). Perostripping
aun a pesarofde esas
parliamentary
rights from
five of the
coalitionsaldeputies
the que
constataciones,
se contina
recurriendo
sentido in
de 2002,
unidadand
poltica
generalaporta
disillusionment
goes with
holding
the al
reins
of power
so
el conceptothat
de cultura,
ahora
asociado
de nacin:
sifor
el winka
no
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
quiere reconocer a los indgenas en sus ciudades [] seguramente no se va
of these
or some combination
of desconocer
them, couldque
indeed
aAny
encontrar
conforces,
los indgenas,
pero no podr
a su lado
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
existen sujetos que pertenecen a un colectivo cultural y poltico identificado
necessarily
toms
the real
coalitions
survival
for a number
of reasons.
con ladevastating
idea, mucho
que utpica,
de Nacin
Mapuche
(Levil, 2006:
In the first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
yearsde Max
248). La nacin se transforma en una misin cultural; en palabras
in far Weber:
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
La superioridad o aun la insustituibilidad de los bienes culturales
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
cuyo fomento y conservacin resulta posible slo por el mantenimiento de
Concertacin
may peculiares
well be inconstituye,
a position pues,
in 2005
to claimen
credit
for good
tales rasgos
el cimiento
que suele
basarse la
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
nonimportancia de la nacin (Weber, 1992: 682). La cultura como
concepto
democratic
of the Pinochet
era including
the renowned
polticolegacy
tiene rendimientos
de alta relevancia
para la accin
en tanto permite
anular la propia observacin de la diferencia: los mapuches siempre han
sido simblicamente diversos, pero cuando se los quiere observar como
cuerpo comn son culturalmente unitarios e indicados como una nacin
distinta de otra, precisamente, por efecto de su cultura.
Al distinguir lo propio y lo ajeno, la semntica de la cultura permite la
comparacin (Luhmann, 1999; Baecker, 2001; Faras, 2006; Dockendorff,
2006), y mediante ella se constatan los obstculos y posibilidades para la
continuacin de esa idea de unidad. Lo ajeno se puede convertir en un
obstculo para la posibilidad de lo propio, lo que transforma la observacin
cultural en un problema de inclusin y exclusin. Se advierten amenazas,
inequidades, injusticias que se despersonalizan en la comunicacin y son
generalizadas bajo la frmula de la discriminacin cultural. Ello permite fundamentar la accin poltica afirmativamente como mantencin de la cultura y
negativamente como oposicin a la disolucin y a la fuente a la cual ella es
atribuida. En el primer caso, en nombre de la cultura, se lucha por derechos

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
100
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hastnicos,
slowednacionales
somewhat
since en
theel caso
coalitions
earlymapuche
years inpor el
grupales,
como
del reclamo
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initiallysobre
reconocimiento constitucional (Sierra, 2003) y se llama la atencin
galvanized
around de
opposition
the colectivos
Pinochet como
regime of
1970s
and
las diferencias
inclusin to
entre
en the
el caso
de la
decla1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
racin del Congreso Mapuche. En el segundo, en nombre de la preservamight
naturally
In addition,
Concertacin,extranjera,
and even its
cin
culturalweaken.
nacional
se limita the
la inmigracin
encomponent
nombre de los
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided en
valores culturales de la familia se excluyen las uniones homosexuales,
overnombre
social issues,
as de
the los
legalacuerdos
status ofsedivorce
andde
access
to birth en
de la such
cultura
sospecha
los disensos,
control.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
nombre de la comunidad cultural se censura la accin individual. the
De esa
presidency
a majority
in the Chamber
Deputies
(the legislative
house
forma and
se puede
moralizar,
criticar e of
incluso
atacar,
sin necesidad
de arelected
by popular
vote) como
for 16concepto
years. By
the standards
gumentar.
La cultura
poltico
posibilita of
unamultiparty
renuncia a la
coalitions
anywhere,argumentativa
much less among
Latin
Americas
fundamentacin
porque se
construye
sobre presidential
umbrales de insystems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
violabilidad que no pueden ser puestos en duda en of
la miscellaneous
reflexin ni en la
corruption
charges
thearranca.
stripping
of a
accin. La
unidadagainst
cultural members,
se indica y including
desde ah se
Funciona
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
condicin de eliminar la contingencia de su propio ncleo, o al menos de
general
disillusionment
that goes
with holding
of power yforespecialso
hacer
su transformacin
inaccesible
para losthe
quereins
lo comparten
long.mente
One might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
para los que no lo hacen.
Any La
of frmula
these forces,
some combination
them, could
indeed
puedeorplantearse
del modo ofsiguiente:
Desde
que teundermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as se
nemos cultura, tenemos tradicin y puesto que las tradiciones
necessarily
to the
coalitions
survival for
number
of reasons.
pueden devastating
observar, uno
puede
entusiasmarse
cona ellas
o irritarse
contra
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years
ellas (Luhmann, 1999: 53). La construccin cultural remite a la historia, a
in faruna
better
shape
than that
of elipsis
any of de
itsloSouthern
Cone neighbors,
historia
articulada
como
que la contradice
(Moralesand
y Silva,
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
The es
2006). La historia por tanto es reduccin de la contingencia2003.
del pasado,
Concertacin
may
well beque
in permite
a position
in 2005atounclaim
foresos
goodaconun singular
colectivo
adscribir
podercredit
interior
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
non- setecimientos y sufrimientos humanos que son impulsados y articulados
democratic
legacy
of
the
Pinochet
era
including
the
renowned
gn un plan secreto o revelado, un poder frente al cual uno se puede saber
responsable o en cuyo nombre se puede creer actuar (Koselleck, 1992: 54).
La cultura como concepto poltico condensa la historia en forma de tradicin y la proyecta al futuro como reproduccin cultural, conlleva una expectativa de races, de una existencia estable y territorial (Clifford, 1995:
395), por ello puede cumplir una funcin moral o poltica frente a un mundo
estabilizado en la variacin, un mundo de recurrentes interpenetraciones e
inconsistencias simblicas a pesar de que los individuos en ese mundo se
autodescriban por medio de la referencia a su cultura o a una cultura. Se
puede advertir entonces que la cultura, como concepto poltico, se vuelve
imprescindible para esos individuos mientras ms ellos constaten que la
cultura se deconstruye.
La declaracin del Congreso Nacional Mapuche referido ms arriba
expresa esta idea: Estamos empeados igual que todos en el desarrollo del
pas, pero ste no debe ser a costa del territorio y la cultura mapuche,
porque la marginalidad, la postergacin econmica, la discriminacin que

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
101
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
sincedirectamente
the coalitions
early
years
in
estigmatiza,
la inequidad,
atentan
contra
nuestra
supervivengovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
cia e identidad [] Aun cuando la mitad de la poblacin est en zonas
galvanized
around
opposition
to the Pinochet
ofy the
1970s and
urbanas,
la referencia
ideolgica
cultural esregime
la tierra
el territorio
mapuche
1980s,ancestral
so as time(Congreso
passes, the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
Nacional Mapuche en Peyser 2003: 69). Varios rendimight naturally
weaken. In
andcuando
even itssecomponent
mientos polticos
se addition,
adviertentheenConcertacin,
la declaracin
la observa bajo
parties elmost
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally condiciones
divided
prisma de la cultura como concepto poltico: se visibilizan
de
over social
issues,
such asal the
legal status
of divorce
andmapuche,
access tosebirth
exclusin
referidas
colectivo,
al bonum
commune
identifica
control.una
Finally,
2005 elections,
the Concertacin
have held
the
fuentebydethe
atribucin
(el desarrollo
del pas) ywill
se indica
un umbral
de
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
inviolabilidad (la cultura y el territorio) que funciona para todos, aun cuanelecteddobyse popular
16 years.
By the standards
of multiparty
constata vote)
que laformitad
de la poblacin
est en zonas
urbanas. As se
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
habla en nombre de todos y se puede ejercer la funcin poltica de represensystems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
scarslos
of actores
miscellaneous
tacin.
Sin este empleo
del concepto
de the
cultura,
slo podran
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
of fuerza
reflejarse como individuos; la colectividad de la culturastripping
entrega una
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
poltica adicional, un mana, adherible a cualquier reivindicacin.
general disillusionment
goesconcepto
with holding
reinsdeofeste
power
forsesodebera
Si la culturathat
como
polticotheopera
modo,
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
esperar que en los contextos donde hay una afirmacin cultural ms fuerte
Anyvariables
of thesereferidas
forces, or
some combination
of aparezcan
them, could
las
a dimensiones
polticas
conindeed
un nivel de
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
interpenetracin e inconsistencia menor. No cabe esperar ausenciaasde amnecessarily
devastating
to thecon
coalitions
survivaldefor
number of reasons.El punbas, pues
ellas existen
independencia
lasaautodescripciones.
In the first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the last
five years
to es observar en qu medida la cultura como concepto
poltico
se expresa
in far en
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
las opiniones generalizadas de los mapuches.
employment and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
El Grfico N 13 muestra una alta interpenetracin entre mapuche y
Concertacin
may cuando
well be se
inobservan
a position
2005urbana
to claim
credit
good Ello
no mapuche
lasinzonas
y rural
porfor
separado.
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
nonindica que la cultura como concepto poltico mapuche, en lo que
a la condemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
GRFICO N 13:

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
-

CONFIANZA EN GOBIERNO Y PARTIDOS SEGN ZONA DE RESIDENCIA


(%)

94

93

59

60

41

40

Mapuche urbano

No mapuche urbano
Confa en gobierno
Confa en partidos

86

89

66

64

36

34

11

14
Mapuche rural

No mapuche rural

No confa en gobierno
No confa en partidos

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
102
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
since
the coalitions
early
in
fianza has
en elslowed
gobiernosomewhat
y los partidos
polticos
se refiere, no
serayears
un elemento
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
de diferenciacin respecto de lo no mapuche. La distincin viene dada
galvanized
around por
opposition
to residencia,
the Pinochet
of the 1970s
anden lo
nuevamente
zonas de
lo regime
que es bastante
notorio
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
relativo a la confianza en el gobierno, significativamente ms alta en zonas
might
naturally
In addition,
Concertacin,
and even mapuche
its component
rurales.
Es weaken.
cierto, sin
embargo,theque
en la desconfianza
frente a
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
partidos y gobierno puede operar de todos modos un componente
tnico.
overEsto
social
issues,
such
as
the
legal
status
of
divorce
and
access
to
birth
es lo que comienza a aparecer cuando las temticas se vinculan ms a
control.
Finally,
the 2005
Concertacin
will en
have
held thea las
la idea
de la by
cultura
comoelections,
concepto the
poltico,
por ejemplo
lo referido
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house las
reparaciones frente a los mapuches y el uso de la fuerza para reclamar
elected
by
popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
tierras.
coalitions Frente
anywhere,
much less de
among
Latin
presidential
a la interrogante
si el pas
debeAmericas
reparar a los
mapuches y si
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of
miscellaneous
el uso de la fuerza se justifica para reclamar las tierras, el Grfico N 14
corruption
chargesdiferencias
against members,
including
thepoblaciones.
stripping La
of culpermite apreciar
significativas
entre ambas
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
tura como concepto poltico tiene consecuencias cuando est en juego lo
general
that goes
with
holdingdethe
reins of power
for socomo
que disillusionment
ms arriba definimos
como
el umbral
inviolabilidad:
la tierra
long.sustento
One might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
de la cultura entendida como unidad. De todos modos, la proporAny
forces,
some combination
of them,
couldpreguntas
indeed no
cin
de of
no these
mapuches
queorresponde
afirmativamente
a ambas
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
es menor. Ello indica que fuera de la cultura tambin se aprecia la relevannecessarily
to the
coalitions
survival en
for las
a number
of reasons.
cia del devastating
problema, sin
embargo,
la diferencia
proporciones
entre los
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
years
mapuches y los no mapuches es lo que importa, pues de ah sefive
deriva
que la
in farautodescripcin
better shape than
of any
of itspenetra
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and de
comothat
unidad
cultural
en la
opinin
generalizada
employment
and growth
los mapuches
ante estefigures
tema. rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nondemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
GRFICO N 14:

REPARAR A MAPUCHES Y JUSTIFICA USO FUERZA SEGN MAPUCHE/NO


MAPUCHE (%)

100
90

95

80

83

70
60
50

61
52

40
30
20
10
-

Mapuche

No mapuche

Reparar a mapuches
Justifica uso fuerza

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
103
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy hasCuando
slowedla somewhat
since
coalitions
early
years lainconsiscultura opera
comotheconcepto
poltico,
tambin
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
tencia en las respuestas se incrementa. Para la poblacin mapuche,
el Grfigalvanized
around
opposition
to
the
Pinochet
regime
of
the
1970s
and
co N 15 muestra el cruce de la reparacin a los mapuches y la justificacin
1980s,del
so uso
as time
passes,para
the reclamar
compelling
force of that initial motivation
de la fuerza
las tierras.
might naturally
weaken.
In
addition,
the
Concertacin,
and even itssecomponent
Si se piensa que se debe reparar a los mapuches,
justifica en alta
parties proporcin
most notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided
el uso de la fuerza en relacin al reclamo
de tierras.
Los porcenover social
issues, such
as the
of divorcecuasi
and simtrico
access to entre
birth ambas
tajes muestran
adems
unlegal
nivel status
de consistencia
control.medidas.
Finally, Sin
by the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the cuanduda esto puede variar frente a otras dimensiones, pero
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
do se trata de los umbrales inviolables de la cultura como concepto poltico
electedcualquier
by popular
for 16parece
years.legitimarse.
By the standards of multiparty
formavote)
de protesta
coalitions anywhere,
much
less Edward
among Said:
LatinTodas
Americas
presidential
Como lo ha
afirmado
las culturas
son hbridas;
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of
miscellaneous
ninguna es pura; ninguna es idntica a un pueblo racialmente puro; ningucorruption
charges
members, (Said,
including
the Cuando
stripping
na conforma
un against
tejido homogneo
2005: 55).
las of
cosas se
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
observan as, las posibilidades del anlisis social se expandenthe
a la ingeneraldagacin
disillusionment
that
goes
with
holding
the
reins
of
power
for
so
de las interpenetraciones e inconsistencias simblicas en tanto
long. One
might conclude,
then, that the
coalition isde
simply
ready tode
expire.
expresiones
de la iterabilidad
significativa
los mundos
sentido conAny
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
could
temporneos, como lo hemos intentado en estas pginas. Pero indeed
lo que puede
undermine
the el
Concertacin,
but no
wetiene
do por
not qu
regard
these factors
satisfacer
inters analtico
ser adoptado
comoas
premisa
necessarily
devastating
to the coalitions
survival
for a number
of reasons.excluide conducta
por actores
que se sienten
discriminados,
postergados,
In the first
the Chilean
economy
has come
through
the last
years poltidos. place,
Para ellos,
un concepto
de cultura
como
orientacin
defive
la accin
in far ca
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
reivindicativa dispuesta a cierta hibridacin, pero no a la disolucin
de
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
los umbrales de inviolabilidad, parece ser ms til. El anlisis puede retratar
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nondemocratic
legacy of
the Pinochet era including the renowned
GRFICO N 15:
REPARAR A MAPUCHES Y JUSTIFICA USO DE FUERZA (POBLACIN
MAPUCHE )

80
70

64

69

60
50
Justifica uso fuerza
No justifica uso fuerza

40
30

36

31

20
10
Reparar a mapuche

No reparar a mapuche

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
104
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasdeslowed
somewhat
sincedethe
coalitions yearly
years in
su modo
operacin,
sus efectos
generalizacin
sus consecuencias
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
en la accin, sin embargo no puede pretender ser acogido comoinitially
descripcin
galvanized
around
opposition
to
the
Pinochet
regime
of
the
1970s
nativa. Como siempre que se trata de hegemonas, primacas, bienesand
y opor1980s,
so as time
passes, the de
compelling
of that
initial
tunidades,
el antagonismo
lo polticoforce
(Mouffe,
2003)
es el motivation
que resuelve el
might
naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
problema.
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
VIII. Reconstrucciones simblicas descentradas
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
Deconstruir es descomponer, deshacer, desedimentar estructuras
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
que
en
ese procesomuch
muestran
iterabilidad
contingencia
de sus fundacoalitions anywhere,
less laamong
Latin yAmericas
presidential
mentos.
ello es una
parte de labearing
tarea. En
a un
Amigo Japons,
systems,
the Pero
Concertacin
is geriatric,
the Carta
scars of
miscellaneous
Jacques Derrida muestra su otra cara: Ms que destruir era preciso asimiscorruption charges against members, including the stripping of
mo comprender cmo se haba construido un conjunto y, para ello, era
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
preciso reconstruirlo (Derrida, 1997: 25). Deconstruccin es la unidad de
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
una diferencia. No es slo un gesto filosfico o un ejercicio acadmico. La
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
incontestable
variabilidad
mundo
que hace aoflos
actores
moverse
Any of these
forces, ordel
some
combination
them,
could
indeedhacia
nuevos
terrenos,
los
motiva
tambin
a
sostenerlo
por
mecanismos
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factorsdeasevitacin, resistencia, conquista o por la definicin de umbrales de inviolabilinecessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
dad. Aceptan la deconstruccin para reconstruir de otro modo una consIn the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
truccin que nuevamente puede deconstruirse. Para entender esto, una idea
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
de cultura como todo unificado y coherente no es til; como semntica
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
empleada con fines reconstructivos, en ltima instancia polticos, es impresConcertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
cindible.
economic
stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonPero las autodescripciones polticas formuladas contrafcticamente
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
no pueden esperar encontrar poca o ninguna resistencia. Ms bien resistencia es lo que deben esperar precisamente por ser contrafcticas. Y no slo
provocan resistencia externa de la fuente de atribucin, sino que tambin
generan interpenetraciones e inconsistencias internas en lo que se observa
como unidad cultural. Como se pudo apreciar en el Grfico N 6, para la
poblacin mapuche (en ms del 50%) el elemento principal para mantener su
cultura es hablar la lengua mapuche; vivir de la tierra y que el estado les
entregue tierras aparecen respectivamente en el cuarto y sexto lugar de
preferencias (con alrededor del 30%). Cuando la cultura se formula como
concepto poltico en la Declaracin de 1997, la tierra, no la lengua, se presenta como el umbral de inviolabilidad. La Ley 19.253 (Ley indgena) recoge
esta idea en su artculo 1: indgenas son quienes conservan manifestaciones tnicas y culturales propias siendo para ellos la tierra el fundamento de
su existencia y cultura (art. 1). Como lo vimos en la seccin anterior, la
Declaracin de 1997 no est semnticamente lejos de esta formulacin. (Se

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
105
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hashablar
slowed
somewhat sincePara
the ella
coalitions
early de
years
in
podra
de interpenetracin.)
el fundamento
la reconstrucgovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
cin simblica no es lo que la mayora de la poblacin mapuche expresa, no
galvanized
the Pinochet
regime ofEn
thela1970s
and
es la around
lengua. opposition
(Se podra to
hablar
de inconsistencia.)
Ley indgena
la
1980s,lengua
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
tiene un lugar marginal, la preocupacin por ella es asignada a la
might naturally
weaken. In addition,
thedeConcertacin,
and even its
component
Conadi (Corporacin
Nacional
Desarrollo Indgena)
y slo
en referencia
parties amost
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
divided
los indgenas de los canales australes: la Corporacin procurar
conserover social
as the legal
status
of divorce
and como
accessconcepto
to birth poltivar suissues,
lenguasuch
e identidad
(art. 74).
Cuando
la cultura
control.coFinally,
by the
2005ese
elections,
the Concertacin
willdel
have
held the
define un
centro,
centro tiene
la potencialidad
descentramiento,
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
de dislocar las propias articulaciones simblicas que se busca defender,
de
electedsituar
by popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
un elemento en lugar de otro.
coalitions anywhere,
much
less
among
Latinpara
Americas
presidential
El escenario
es por
tanto
paradojal:
reconstruir
hay que deconssystems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of
miscellaneous
truir. Es tambin lo que sucede con la incorporacin de la machi en los
corruption
chargesde against
members,
the stripping
of es la
movimientos
resistencia
mapuche. including
En su rol tradicional
la machi
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
figura shamnica de mediacin entre inmanencia y trascendencia; en tanto,
generalbajo
disillusionment
that goes with
holding the
reinsesofunpower
for intercamso
el enfoque folklorizante
del discurso
pblico
smbolo
long. One
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
biable por el de alma nacional (Bacigalupo, 2004); constituye un cono del
Any of
some observ
combination
them, could
indeed
modo
en these
que laforces,
nacinorchilena
a losofmapuches
durante
los siglos
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as pasaXIX y XX, esto es, como remanentes exticos de los modos de vida
necessarily
devastating
to the coalitions
survivalpara
for ser
a number
of reasons.
dos que
deben permanecer
inmodificados
autnticos
(Bacigalupo,
In the first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years
2004: 509). Para el empleo de la cultura como concepto poltico es
necesario
in far reconstruir
better shapela than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
autenticidad. Autntico es lo que est ms all del and
umbral de
employment
and growth
in first indica
monthscomo
of 2003.
Theque no
inviolabilidad,
es lofigures
que larebounded
autodescripcin
aquello
Concertacin
may
well be in aelposition
2005 to
good
puede ser
transformado:
vnculo in
sagrado
a laclaim
tierracredit
en la for
Declaracin
de
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
non- es1997. Todo movimiento de resistencia requiere de un umbral y requiere
democratic
legacy
of the
Pinochet
eradel
including
renowned
cenificarlo
de algn
modo.
En el caso
movimiento the
mapuche,
la machi ha
comenzado a cumplir ese rol: Las imgenes de la machi femenina de los
movimientos de resistencia mapuche como madres de la tierra y guardianas
del territorio, las que se corresponden con las imgenes folklricas nacionales de la machi, son estratgicamente elegidas y situacionalmente empleadas para comprometer a los mapuche de diferentes comunidades y para
legitimar una nacin mapuche autnoma con una base territorial rural fija
(Bacigalupo, 2004: 517). Esta condensacin de imgenes de lo autntico
permite la permanencia de la machi en una simblica tradicional apoltica y a
la vez le posibilita vincularse a las autoridades polticas por vas no ideolgicas. Bacigalupo llama a esto poltica de la espiritualidad (Bacigalupo,
2004: 525).
Lo particular de esta situacin es el descentramiento generado por el
umbral de inviolabilidad de la cultura como concepto poltico: la machi opera simblicamente y de modo simultneo en tres constelaciones: la tradicional de vinculacin con lo sacro, la folklrica de smbolo de lo autntico y la

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
106
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
since the con
coalitions
early
yearslos
in moconstelacin
polticasomewhat
de relacionamiento
el estado.
Cuando
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
vimientos de resistencia la invocan como smbolo de lo que se debe pregalvanized
opposition
to the Pinochet
regime
of the 1970s
and a la
servar, around
como telos
de la reivindicacin
poltica,
la dislocan,
la llevan
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
tradicin, al folklore y la poltica al mismo tiempo. Si la machi es la represenmight
naturally
In addition,
the Concertacin,
and even its component
tacin
de loweaken.
autntico,
al indicarla
como tal se desautentifica
en su sentido
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided es
original; se disgrega en lo que va siendo en cada
espacio simblico,
overautnticamente
social issues, such
as the
status
divorce
and access
to paradoja:
birth
otra cosa
en legal
cada uno
deof
ellos.
El resultado
es una
control.
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the
intentar reconstruir la cultura como unidad la deconstruye an ms, mostrar
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
a la machi como lo originario la desliga de la tradicin en la que su originalielected
popular exponer
vote) for
16 years.
By exponerlo.
the standards
of multiparty
dad by
se asienta,
el original
es no
A veces
subir es bajar,
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
deca Schneider.
systems, theA Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing
the scars of miscellaneous
paradojas, inconsistencias,
interpenetraciones,
dislocaciones,
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
of
descentramientos es a lo que deben acostumbrarsethelasstripping
reconstrucciones
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
simblicas en el mundo contemporneo. La formulacin de umbrales de
general
disillusionment
that goes
with dicho
holding til
the para
reinslaoforientacin
power for poltica
so
inviolabilidad
es como
lo hemos
long.deOne
might
conclude,
then,
that
the
coalition
is
simply
ready
to
expire.
la accin, pero su autenticidad no es vivenciable, pues al indicarse deja
of these forces,
combination
of por
them,
could indeed
de Any
ser autntica.
Es til or
parasome
resistir
a la presin
aprender
a hacer las
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
cosas de otro modo, a la presin por renunciar a la tierra o a la
lenguaascomo
necessarily
devastating
to pero
the coalitions
survival
for a ynumber
smbolos
identitarios,
tampoco logra
totalizar
unificarofelreasons.
universo de
In the
first
place,
the
Chilean
economy
has
come
through
the
last
five
years
sentido sobre la base de ese centro. La machi no es menos machi negocianin fardobetter
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
andalma
con las autoridades polticas, no es menos machi como smbolo del
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
de la nacin en el folklore, no es menos machi sin trance shamnico; est
Concertacin
may
wellespacios
be in a en
position
in 2005 en
to claim
credit for
tambin en
esos
otro registro,
otro sistema
de good
reenvos
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
nonsignificativos, en otra diffrance.
democraticEllegacy
of mujeres
the Pinochet
erapro
including
the renowned
trabajo de
mapuches
derechos humanos
es otro ejemplo: adoptan uno de los elementos ms abstractos y universales del mundo
occidental moderno (la idea de derechos de la humanidad) y lo contextualizan en su activismo como mujeres dentro del movimiento mapuche (Richards, 2004). El caso de funcionarios mapuche en el estado es similar: se
integran en la poltica indgena manteniendo la idea de ganar algo tanto
personalmente como para las comunidades mapuches, una forma de subjetividad hbrida (Park y Richards, 2000). De igual modo, la transformacin de
las estructuras de liderazgo en el Alto Bo Bo desde lonkos tradicionales
hacia lderes que, en nombre de la comunidad, muestren mayor capacidad
de negociacin con las instituciones pblicas, es un movimiento en esta
direccin (Gonzlez-Parra, Simon y Villegas, 2005). Puede ser incluso posible
interpretar la historia del movimiento poltico mapuche en este sentido, desde la Sociedad Caupolicn a inicios del siglo XX, la Federacin Araucana, el
Frente nico Araucano, la Asociacin Nacional Indgena, Ad Mapu, hasta
el Consejo de Todas las Tierras, entre otros (Caniuqueo, 2006; Levil, 2006).

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
107
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has ser
slowed
the coalitions
in nacioParecen
ahorasomewhat
los propiossince
indgenas
y ya no early
slo elyears
estado
government
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
nal los que construyen sus propias instituciones mediadoras (Vergara del
galvanized
to the
Pinochet
regime
the 1970s
and
Solar,around
2005). opposition
En todos esos
casos,
la defensa
de laofcultura
es su descentra1980s,miento.
so as time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
Para reforzarla hay que movilizarse ms all de ella, reflexivizarla,
might naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
component
hacerla iterar,
arrojar
sus smbolos
contra otrosand
paraeven
ver its
cmo
se acomodan,
parties violar
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
internally
sus umbrales de inviolabilidad para mantener la ficcin divided
de su carcter
over social
issues,e inmodificable.
such as the legal
status
of divorcepone
and en
access
to birth mltiperdurable
Toda
reconstruccin
movimiento
control.ples
Finally,
by
the
2005
elections,
the
Concertacin
will
have
held
the ltima
deconstrucciones, toda unidad es diferencia, as como por
presidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
vez subir es a veces bajar.
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
Mashpee
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric,IX.bearing
the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
En las ltimas cien pginas de Dilemas de la Cultura, James Clifford
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
entrega uno de los ms interesantes relatos etnogrficos de la antropologeneral disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
ga contempornea, el del juicio que en 1976 el Consejo Tribal Wampanoag
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
de
Mashpee,
contra la
Corporation
Any
of theseMassachusetts,
forces, or someentabl
combination
of New
them,Seabury
could indeed
(empresa
de
desarrollo
de
condominios
lujosos),
por
el
traspaso
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors de
as los terrenos abiertos de Cape Cod a manos privadas que se haba venido ejernecessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
ciendo desde fines de los aos sesenta, cuando el gobierno local pas a
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
manos de una mayora blanca (Clifford, 1995).
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
El reclamo colectivo de la tribu mashpee (los demandantes) se cenemployment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
traba en la propiedad colectiva de la tierra que desde el siglo XIX haba sido
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
problemtica
y que
ahoramany
la New
Seabury
(la the
defensa)
economic
stewardship.
Next,
of the
issuesCorporation
surrounding
non- haba
adquirido. El juicio se centr en la calidad de tribu que los mashpee podan
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
demostrar desde su origen hasta la actualidad. La defensa arguy que hacia
1620 la regin haba sido diezmada por enfermedades tradas por los marineros ingleses; slo la reunin de nativos de diversa procedencia en torno a la
proteccin de un granjero de la zona les haba permitido la rearticulacin. El
origen de la tribu era artificial. Los demandantes, por su parte, indicaron
que la conformacin de la tribu era una cuestin poltica y que ella slo
poda verificarse en los siglos XVIII o XIX. Respecto de su cristianizacin,
aceptada por los demandantes, ella no poda entenderse como conversin
(versin de la defensa), aunque s como forma religiosa sincrtica de existencia. La creacin de plantacin de Cape Cod era otro punto de controversia: para la defensa expresaba el deseo de los mashpee por integrarse a
Massachusetts, para los demandantes se trataba slo de un modo instrumental de tener un estatus legal para seguir manteniendo la identidad. Asimismo, la participacin de indios en la guerra contra la corona inglesa no
poda entenderse como abandono de la lucha identitaria, aun cuando la
defensa indicara el patriotismo americano que haba mostrado la tribu

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
108
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
theblancos,
coalitions
years
in
Mashpee,
tampoco somewhat
el mestizajesince
con los
pues early
para los
demandangovernment
during
the
1990s.
Moreover,
the
coalition
itself
was
initially
tes se trataba de una estrategia para mantener a la tribu. Finalmente, la
galvanized
around de
opposition
to the
Pinochet
regime
of mitad
the 1970s
andXIX
transformacin
los mashpee
en pueblo
en la
segunda
del siglo
1980s,
so
as
time
passes,
the
compelling
force
of
that
initial
motivation
implic la posibilidad de enajenacin de sus tierras. Para la defensa la idea
might
weaken.
addition,
the Concertacin,
even its component
denaturally
tribu se
diluaIncon
ello; los
demandantes and
arguyeron
que aunque el
parties
most
notably
the
Christian
Democrats
are
divided
cambio haba significado el traspaso de muchas tierrasinternally
a manos no
indias, la
overmantencin
social issues,
as the
legal
and access
to birth
delsuch
gobierno
local
en status
manosofdedivorce
los mashpee
haba contrarrestacontrol.
Finally,
by the
2005 elections,
the Concertacin
will have held the
do esa
tendencia
y conservado
la unidad
tribal.
presidency and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
house
Los antroplogos llamados a declarar en favor de
la demanda
fueron
elected
by
popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
constantemente interrogados por las ideas de tribu y cultura. Nunca pudiecoalitions
anywhere,
lessDeamong
Latin es,
Americas
presidential
ron responder
con much
claridad.
alto inters
por ejemplo,
el siguiente
systems,
the
Concertacin
is
geriatric,
bearing
the
scars
of
miscellaneous
dilogo entre el juez y Jack Campisi, antroplogo citado por la demanda:
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
rights
fromson
fiveesos
of the
coalitions
deputies
2002,
and the
Juez:
Cules
sistemas
de valores
que in
usted
identifigeneral disillusionment
that goes with holding
thecuales
reins of
for so
ca como caractersticamente
indios, los
dicepower
perduran
entre conclude,
aquellos mashpee
son bautistas?
long. One might
then, thatque
the coalition
is simply ready to expire.
respecto aofla them,
reverencia
la
Any Campisi:
of these Bueno,
forces, laoractitud
some con
combination
couldpor
indeed
[] que usted but
no eswepuesto
sobre
la tierra
parafactors
mante- as
undermine tierra
the Concertacin,
do not
regard
these
nerse de ella, sino que tiene la obligacin de mantener la tierra
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
en la cual fue puesto
In the first place,
Chilean
economy has
come
last fiveque
years
Juez: the
Usted
ve diferencias
entre
unthrough
bautistathe
mashpee
in far bettercree
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
en estas cosas y, digamos, un bautista del Club Sierraand
employmentque
and
growth
siente
de lafigures
misma rebounded
manera? in first months of 2003. The
Campisi:
Por
lo
que
s
del Club
Sierra,
probablemente
Concertacin may well be in a position
in 2005
to claim
credit forson
good
muy
similares
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonNo es
democraticJuez:
legacy
of nico?
the Pinochet era including the renowned
Campisi: Pudo haber habido un prstamo de los indios al
Club Sierra
Juez: O viceversa
Campisi: Bueno, dado que estn aqu antes que el Club Sierra (Clifford, 1995: 375).

El concepto de cultura tampoco resisti los interrogatorios: Ni la


lengua, ni la religin, ni la tierra, ni la economa, ni ninguna otra institucin o
costumbre clave eran su condicin sine qua non (Clifford, 1995: 378). El
juicio concluy con un fallo a favor de la defensa: era imposible determinar
la continuidad y autenticidad de la tribu y cultura mashpee desde su origen
hasta la actualidad; a lo largo de su historia una serie de interpenetraciones
e inconsistencias la haban cruzado.
Puede concluirse de ello que los mashpee nunca existieron?, puede
derivarse de las interpenetraciones, inconsistencias, dislocaciones, descentramientos de las constelaciones simblicas mapuches que los mapuches

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
109
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
since
the coalitions early
years yinmenos
no existen
o nunca
existieron?
Antropolgicamente,
tnicamente
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
desde la observacin de los actores, seguramente no. Por lo dems, un
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
juicio establece una decisin jurdica, no constituye una medida evaluativa
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
de la historia. Lo que s parece establecerse es que las constelaciones simmight naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
blicas son iterables. Que las enfermedades tradas por los huincas, la evanparties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
gelizacin de los mapuches, el rgimen de reducciones, su participacin en
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
iniciativas de alcance nacional (desde la colaboracin con la pacificacin
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
hasta la Conadi), su mestizaje, su proletarizacin, su urbanizacin, tienen
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
simblicas
hacenBy
imposible
hablar de
cultura mapuelectedconsecuencias
by popular vote)
for 16que
years.
the standards
of la
multiparty
che,
porque
ella
se
deconstruye
en
cada
una
de
sus
reconstrucciones,
en
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
cada
de sus/nuestros
los activistas,
sin embargo,
systems,
theencuentro
Concertacin
is geriatric, signos.
bearing Para
the scars
of miscellaneous
stas
son
precisamente
las
razones
para
seguir
invocando
su
unidad,
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of autenticidad yrights
originalidad
deof
la the
cultura
mapuche.
Bieninpor
las and
contrafcticas
parliamentary
from five
coalitions
deputies
2002,
the
luchas
por
reconocimiento.
Ninguna
antropologa
podr
arrebatarles
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for soeso.
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
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www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
110
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasElslowed
the coalitions
early years
in

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parties
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are de
internally
divided
Durston,
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such para
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Potencial
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de Capacitacin?,
2005. by
En www.cinterfor.org.uy
2006). will have held the
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the 2005 elections, (noviembre
the Concertacin
Elias, Norbert:
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the Rolf:
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bearing de
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Encuesta
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2002, yand
the
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general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so y
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long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
2004.
Any Clifford:
of theseTras
forces,
or some
of Dcadas
them, could
indeed
Geertz,
los Hechos.
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but
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regard
these
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as
Paids, 1996.

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las
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2005.
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de come
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Ctedra,
1992.
In the
first place,
the Las
Chilean
economy has
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the last
five years
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in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
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employmentHighlands,
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a position
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many de
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www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ALDO MASCAREO
111
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
hasJorge:
slowed
somewhat
since en
theAmrica
coalitions
Larran,
Identidad
y Modernidad
Latina.early
Mxicoyears
D. F.:inOcano,
government during
2000. the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially

Amrica
Latina to
Moderna?:
Globalizacin
Santiago:
galvanized
around
opposition
the Pinochet
regime eofIdentidad.
the 1970s
and Lom
Ediciones,
2005.
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Lechner, Norbert: El Estado en el Contexto de la Modernidad. En Norbert Lechner,
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
Ren Milln y Francisco Valds (coords.), Reforma del Estado y Coordinacin
parties mostSocial.
notably
theD.Christian
are39-54.
internally divided
Mxico
F.: Plaza yDemocrats
Valds, 1991, pp.
over social
issues,Claude:
such as
the legal status
of divorce
to Universitaria,
birth
Lvi-Strauss,
Antropologa
Estructural.
Buenos and
Aires:access
Editorial
1968.
control. Finally,
by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
Levil,and
Rodrigo:
Sociedad
Pablo Marimn
presidency
a majority
in theMapuche
ChamberContempornea.
of Deputies (theEn
legislative
house et al.,
Escucha, Winka! Cuatro Ensayos de Historia Nacional Mapuche y un
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
Eplogo sobre el Futuro. Santiago: Lom Ediciones, 2006, pp. 219-252.
coalitions
anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
Luhmann, Niklas: Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp, 1997.
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,Enbearing
the scarsComplejidad
of miscellaneous

Inclusin y Exclusin.
Niklas Luhmann.
y Modernidad.
corruption charges
against
Madrid: Trotta,
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pp. 167-195. including the stripping of
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4. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp, 1999, pp. 31-54.
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Maniqueo, Reynaldo: Los Mapuche y los Medios de Comunicacin, 2003. En Enlace
Any ofInternacional
these forces,
or some
combination of them,
could 2006).
indeed
Mapuche,
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(noviembre
undermine
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but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
Marimn, Pablo: Los Mapuche antes de la Conquista Militar Chileno-Argentina.
En
Pablo
Marimn
et
al.,
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de
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.Historia
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Mapucheeconomy
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Santiago:
Lom
Ediciones,
In the first place,
the Chilean
has come
through
last five
years
2006, pp. 53-127.
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
Marn, Cristbal y Rodrigo Cordero: Los Medios Masivos y las Transformaciones de la
employment and
growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
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Concertacin
mayAldo:
wellSociologa
be in a position
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Mascareo,
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un Sistema
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Etnohistoria. En Pablo Marimn et al., Escucha, Winka! Cuatro Ensayos
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Ediciones, 2006, pp. 17-52.
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Publishing, 2002.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
112
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat
since the Neoliberal
coalitions
early yearsMapuche
in
Park, Yun-Joo
y Patricia
Richards: Negotiating
Multiculturalism:
governmentWorkers
during inthe
the coalition
itself
was initially
the1990s.
ChileanMoreover,
State. En Conference
Papers.
American
Sociological
Philadelphia
Database),regime
2005. of the 1970s and
galvanized Association.
around opposition
to(Ebsco
the Pinochet
Parsons,
Talcott:
El
Sistema
Social.
Madrid:
Revista
de Occidente,
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of
that initial1966.
motivation
Parsons, Talcott y Evon Vogt: Clyde Kay Maben Kluckhohn 1905-1960. En
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
American Anthropologist, 64, 1962, pp. 140-161.
parties
most
notably
the Christian
are internally
divided
Peyser,
Alexia:
Desarrollo,
Cultura e Democrats
Identidad. El Caso
del Mapuche
Urbano en
over social Chile.
issues,
such as
the legal
status of
divorce 2003.
and access to birth
Louvain:
Presses
Universitaires
de Louvain,
PNUD:
ndiceby
de the
Desarrollo
Humano en
Poblacin Mapuche
de laheld
Regin
control.
Finally,
2005 elections,
thelaConcertacin
will have
thede la
Araucana.
UnainAproximacin
Equidad(the
Intertnica
e Intratnica.
presidency and
a majority
the Chamber aoflaDeputies
legislative
house
elected by Santiago:
popular PNUD,
vote) 2003.
for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
Reckwitz, Andreas: Die Transformationen der Kulturtheorien. Weilerswist: Velbrck
coalitions Verlag,
anywhere,
much less among Latin Americas presidential
2000.
systems,
the Patricia:
Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
theRights,
scars and
of miscellaneous
Richards,
The Politics
of Gender,
Human
Being Indigenous in
corruptionChile.
charges
against members,
including
the stripping
of San
En Conference
Papers. American
Sociological
Association.
Francisco
parliamentary
rights(Ebsco
from Database),
five of the2004.
coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
Rosaldo,
Renato: Culture
The Remaking
of Social
Analysis.
general
disillusionment
that and
goesThruth.
with holding
the reins
of power
for Boston,
so
Massachusetts: Beacon Press, 1993.
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Saavedra, Alejandro: Los Mapuche en la Sociedad Chilena Actual. Santiago: Lom
Any Ediciones,
of these 2002.
forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine
the
Concertacin,
we do En
notGerhart
regard
thesey Helga
factors
as
Said, Edward: Cultura, Identidadbut
e Historia.
Schrder
Breuninger
(comps.),
Teora
de
la
Cultura.
Un
Mapa
de
la
Cuestin.
Mxico
D.
F.:
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.Fondo
de Cultura
2005, pp.has
37-53.
In the first place,
the Econmica,
Chilean economy
come through the last five years
Schneider, David: American Kinship: A Cultural Account. Chicago: University of
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
Chicago Press, 1968.
employment
and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
The Power of Culture: Notes on Some Aspects of Gay and Lesbian Kinship
Concertacin
may well
be inEna Cultural
positionAnthropology,
in 2005 to 12
claim
creditpp.
for270-274.
good
in America
Today.
(2), 1997,
economic
stewardship.
Next, many
of the issues
theIndividual
non- y
Sierra, Lucas:
La Constitucin
y los Indgenas
en Chile:surrounding
Reconocimiento
Colectivo.
Pblicos,
2003, pp.19-27.
democraticnolegacy
of En
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era 92,
including
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Stocking, George: Franz Boas and the Culture Concept in Historical Perspective. En
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Stuchlik, Milan: Rasgos de la Sociedad Mapuche Contempornea. Santiago: Ediciones
Nueva Universidad, 1974.
Tylor, Edgard Burnett: Primitive Culture, Vol. 1. London: John Murray, 1871.
Valenzuela, Eduardo y Carlos Cousio: Sociabilidad y Asociatividad: Un Ensayo de
Sociologa Comparada. En Estudios Pblicos, 77, 2000, pp. 321-339.
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Universidad Arturo Prat, 2005.
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