Constructing civil society in a neoliberal age: A case study of NGOs, GROs, and the Chilean state in the 1990s

Throughout Latin America, the number of NGOs and GROs grew substantially in the last 30 years. Traditionally, these organizations emphasized social justice, participatory democracy and human rights. Following the recent wave of transitions to democracy, researchers argued that if traditionally marginalized groups were to be included in civic debate, NGOs and GROs would have to promote more inclusive forms of civil society.; In understanding the development of civil society in the 1990s, Chile offers an important case study. Researchers disagree over whether Chile has established an environment capable of sustaining an inclusive civil society. On the one hand, the country has a long history of democracy and well-established political parties. On the other hand, high levels of income inequality continue to exist and the Chilean government has demonstrated a strong commitment to neoliberalism.; To evaluate the composition of the NGO and GRO sectors in Chile, two surveys were conducted. The first focused on 28 randomly selected NGOs working in Santiago. The second analyzed the political attitudes and behavior of 200 participants in GROs. These studies were supplemented with interviews of government officials, and GRO and NGO leaders, and primary and secondary source material.; This research indicates that in the 1990s, NGOs and GROs experienced a decline in their links to traditional partners such as international donors, the Catholic Church, and political parties on the center-left. Simultaneously, new organizations with ideologies more consistent with neoliberal economic development formed. These new groups emphasized the development of entrepreneurs and the spread of neoliberal ideals, rather than promoting greater civic dialogue. In part, this shift was due to state policies that encouraged local forms of participation consistent with the government's commitment to neoliberal economic growth. This transformation also reflected important changes in the distribution of power among societal groups and in the strategies adopted by political elites and civic leaders.; This study demonstrates the problems with constructing an inclusive civil society in developing countries. In the case of Chile, although democratic institutions exist, past divisions, and high levels of economic inequality have made it difficult to integrate traditionally marginalized groups into civic debate.