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A review by jdscott50
The Southern Tiger: Chile's Fight for a Peaceful and Democratic Future by Bill Clinton, Ricardo Lagos, Elizabeth Dickinson, Blake Hounshell
5.0
After reading Bolano for years, this is the first time I’ve read an in-depth review of the violence and strife in Chile that he and many others escaped. It’s harrowing to see how the author, Richard Lago, escaped after the September 11, 1973 coup that overthrew President Allende for General Pinochet. He does escape, but he goes back to face the evil and through his efforts, he and his allies convince the country to vote out a dictator. It’s an amazing feat and I have never heard of the overthrow of a dictator through a free election. Lagos should have been killed ten times over, but he persevered to free Chile from tyranny.
Great detail on how Lagos fought Pinochet, probably 2/3 of the book. He highlights the horrors of living under Pinochet, the disappearances and what people did to survive. It’s only when support from the U.S. fades does the dictatorship begin to falter, allowing Lagos and his allies to gain a foothold leading to unprecedented protests against the regime. This all leads to a critical moment in Chilean history that Lagos refers to as “The Finger”. He goes on a live television show debate and challenges Pinochet to a new Plebiscite reminding everyone of his promise not to run after 1989. This becomes the catalyst that leads to the election and the “No” vote against Pinochet.
The rest of the book is denouement. I think the major points are Lagos attempts to highlight Chile as a country transformation away from dictatorship and embracing a free market economy. His brushes with President Bush seem to highlight how far Chile has come from being a puppet regime to a country in its own right. Lagos also highlights Pinochet’s arrest in the U.K. and how that led to stripping away the last of his power from Chile, a country now looking forward instead of backward.
The book ends in a hopeful tone, highlighting all Chile has gone through, but still struggling towards prosperity. It was like a country dreaming a nightmare and now they are beginning to wake up to a brighter future, a truly inspiring story.
Great detail on how Lagos fought Pinochet, probably 2/3 of the book. He highlights the horrors of living under Pinochet, the disappearances and what people did to survive. It’s only when support from the U.S. fades does the dictatorship begin to falter, allowing Lagos and his allies to gain a foothold leading to unprecedented protests against the regime. This all leads to a critical moment in Chilean history that Lagos refers to as “The Finger”. He goes on a live television show debate and challenges Pinochet to a new Plebiscite reminding everyone of his promise not to run after 1989. This becomes the catalyst that leads to the election and the “No” vote against Pinochet.
The rest of the book is denouement. I think the major points are Lagos attempts to highlight Chile as a country transformation away from dictatorship and embracing a free market economy. His brushes with President Bush seem to highlight how far Chile has come from being a puppet regime to a country in its own right. Lagos also highlights Pinochet’s arrest in the U.K. and how that led to stripping away the last of his power from Chile, a country now looking forward instead of backward.
The book ends in a hopeful tone, highlighting all Chile has gone through, but still struggling towards prosperity. It was like a country dreaming a nightmare and now they are beginning to wake up to a brighter future, a truly inspiring story.