During the Cold War, Chile was one of the countries most affected by the US Policy of Containment. With the support of the United States, Augusto Pinochet –the Chilean commander in chief– planned and led a coup to overthrow socialist president Salvador Allende in 1973, and assumed the presidency of his country in 1974.
Pinochet intended to eliminate the leftist or socialist party, and to introduce a free-market economy in Chile. During the period from 1976 to 1979, his policies seemed to work, since they lowered inflation and created an economic boom; however, the country went through a severe recession some years later. During Pinochet’s regime, oppression towards his opponents was brutal: just during his first three years in power, he arrested over 130 000 people and several more were reported “missing”. After leaving office in 1990, he was repeatedly accused of violating human rights and tried for torture and human rights abuses.
Here's a link to a video about Pinochet's regime:
References:
"Pinochet, Augusto." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 03 Sept 2009 .
