智利政治代表性危机解析

Analysis of the Crisis of Representation in Chile ——Also on the Main Causes of Social Protests of Chile in 2019

智利的政治代表性危机主要表现在党派认同度下降、选民对政治制度缺乏信任、投票率降低和社会抗议频发等四个方面。收入分配的高度不平等和中产阶层诉求得不到充分回应,是智利政治代表性危机的社会经济背景。宪法改革迟滞、主要政党代表功能不断弱化、选举制度缺乏政治包容性,是智利政治代表性危机的制度因素。在政治代表性危机背景下,民众的诉求无法通过制度化渠道得到回应和满足,被迫进行制度外抗争,这正是2019年智利爆发大规模社会抗议和骚乱的主要原因。进行政治改革,建立更具回应性的政治制度是智利政府面临的严峻挑战。

Chile’s crisis of political representation is mainly manifested in four aspects: decreasing identification with political parties, declining trust in political institutions, falling levels of electoral participation, and the rise of protest. The high inequality of income distribution and the inadequate response to the demands of the middle class from the political class are the socio-economic background of Chile’s political representation crisis. The institutional factors involved include the sluggish constitutional reform, the weakening of the representative function of the main political parties, and the lack of political inclusiveness of the electoral system. Because of the political representation crisis, the voters’ demands could not be answered and satisfied with through institutionalized channels, and they are forced to go to the streets to protest, which is the main reason for the serious social riots in Chile in October 2019. A serious challenge to the Chilean government is to establish a more responsive political system.