The incomplete and reluctant Chilean decentralization. A multi-scalar analysis of the political-administrative organization and its current transformations

Abstract

The Chilean political-administrative organization, highly centralized and presidential, is undergoing significant transformations. In 2021, the first democratic elections for regional governors were held, and, at the same time the country embarked on a constituent discussion process that addressed the political-administrative structure, although, without positive results. This article analyzes the regulatory changes on the powers of the sub-national levels of government in Chile, including their budget structure, the main debates occurred in the constitutional proposals, and the opinion on these issues of key social actors from the areas of Maule, Chiloe and Aysen. These quantitative and qualitative were processed through content and discourse analysis, for each of the three administrative levels of the country: region, province and commune. The results show that the commune is the first level of interaction between citizens and the institutions, although it has few resources and generates evident clientelist relationships that must be questioned, and eventually prevented. The province only performs administrative functions, with very few powers and resources. Finally, the region is consolidating its autonomy, although there is still significant confusion about its powers, operation, resource management, and oversight mechanisms, also showing significant tensions with the national government.