Political Change in the Chilean Electorate 1952-1964

Abstract

ANY THEORIES of development hypothesize interactive effects of economic, social, and political change. Most empirical analyses of such theories have used nation states as units of analysis. From such studies we have acquired much useful information concerning long-range trends. However, predictions concerning within-nation change over shorter time periods cannot be derived easily from statistical generalizations accounting for political differences between nation states at varying levels of economic development. In this study of Chile, first an attempt was made to relate systemic theories of change to behavioral differences within one nation state; and, second, on the basis of the findings, to make some inferences about change in the Chilean electorate and its probable beheavior in the next presidential election of 1970.