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Kompass

Thinkers and political figures

Photograph of Salvador Allende in a suit and glasses.

Portrait: Government of Chile, via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab) · Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Chile

Salvador Allende

Country
Chile
Era
1908–1973
Tradition
Democratic socialism

The first Marxist elected president anywhere in a free election, who attempted to build socialism through constitutional means and died in the presidential palace during the coup that ended the attempt.

01

Documented positions

Documented positions come from the sources listed. Similarity is this project’s inference from those positions, and is a much weaker claim.

  • Nationalised the copper industry by unanimous vote of the Chilean congress in 1971
  • Nationalised banking and much of heavy industry, and accelerated land redistribution
  • Insisted on the "Chilean road to socialism" — transformation through existing constitutional and electoral institutions
  • Raised wages and expanded free milk distribution, health care and housing construction
  • Maintained press freedom and opposition parties throughout his presidency despite escalating conflict
  • Refused to arm his supporters or suspend the constitution as the crisis deepened
  • Died in La Moneda during the military coup of 11 September 1973
02

Where it sits on each dimension

Wealth and inequality

8

Evidence: Well documented

The state in the economy

10

Evidence: Well documented

Personal liberty

70

Evidence: Well documented

Tradition and change

82

Evidence: Well documented

Nation and the world

45

Evidence: Documented

Religion and the state

18

Evidence: Documented

Power and its limits

78

Evidence: Well documented

Dimensions left unscored, for want of evidence: Environment and growth, Crime and punishment

Sources

  • Salvador Allende, Last Speech, Radio Magallanes · 1973
  • Peter Winn, Weavers of Revolution · Oxford University Press · 1986

Last verified: