Silvia Borzutzky Livres

This book analyses Chile’s “truth and justice” policies implemented between 1990 and 2013. The book’s central assumption is that human rights policies are a form of public policy and consequently they are the product of compromises among different political actors. Because of their political nature, these incomplete “truth and justice” policies instead of satisfying the victims’ demands and providing a mechanism for closure and reconciliation generate new demands and new policies and actions. However, these new policies and actions are partially satisfactory to those pursuing justice and the truth and unacceptable to those trying to protect the impunity structure built by General Pinochet and his supporters. Thus, while the 40th anniversary of the violent military coup that brought General Pinochet to power serves as a milestone with which to end this policy analysis, Chile’s human rights historical drama is unfinished and likely to generate new demands for truth and justice policies.

The evolution of social security in Chile, particularly its privatization during the Pinochet regime, is examined through three pivotal historical periods: the mid-1920s, the late 1960s, and the early to mid-1970s. Borzutzky provides a comprehensive analysis of social inequalities and the political landscape, illustrating how Chile's social security system projected a facade of unity while masking deep-seated disparities. The narrative crafted by the regime emphasized individualism, ultimately leading to significant human rights violations as it suppressed the people's aspirations for genuine reform.

Focusing on the impact of compulsory, privately administered defined contribution pensions, the book critiques how such systems enable rent-seeking behavior among fund administrators, ultimately harming retirees' income and well-being. While centered on Chile, the findings extend to various Latin American and Eastern European nations with similar pension structures. The authors analyze the pension fund industry's structure, pricing, and performance, arguing that state regulation has concentrated capital among administrators and reflects conservative values rather than neoliberal principles.