Del Chile de los triunfos morales al “Chile, país ganador”. La identidad nacional y la selección chilena de futbol durante la Dictadura Militar (1973-1989)

• Published in: Historia crítica (Bogotá, Colombia) Vol. 61; pp. 127 - 147
• Main Author: Diego Vilches Parra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de los Andes 01.07.2016
• Subjects: 21st century (author’s keywords); Chile; culture (Thesaurus); military dictatorship; football; National identity
• ISSN: 0121-1617; 1900-6152
• DOI: 10.7440/histcrit61.2016.07

Through the study of the Chilean National Football Team, this article analyzes the impact of the installation of the culture of the free market within the sphere of Chilean identity, during the Military Dictatorship headed by Augusto Pinochet. How was Chilean identity transformed during this process? To answer this question, the social conception of football during the dictatorship will be compared with the concept of the sport that predominated prior to the dictatorship. Thus, and by means of analyzing the discourse of the sports press, it concludes that between 1973 and 1989 the social conception of football changed from a vision in which moral triumphs were appreciated to a conception in which competitive values became hegemonic, centered first and foremost on victory in football. This transition likewise expresses a profound mutation in the expectations, values and the ethical vision and sense of identity of the Chilean people.