The Technocrats' War: Winning the Hearts of the Chilean Armed Forces During the Cold War (1964-1973)
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
History
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
People normally associate the Chilean coup of 1973 as another Cold War coup. Those academics familiar with the Chilean coup normally associate it with the failures of Salvador Allende and his coalition, the role of US officials and international companies, and the militarism of the Chilean Armed Forces and its leader General Augusto Pinochet. This dissertation aims to examine other influences that shaped Chile since the mid-1960s, eventually leading to the coup of September 11, 1973. It evaluates the role of academics and technocrats working in both Chile and the United States and their use of surveys, mass media, military curriculums, purging, and the creation of a massive intelligence apparatus. Starting with Project CAMELOT in 1964, Chilean and U.S. technocrats and academics aimed to use social science methodology as a way to control the masses. After the discovery and subsequent backlash of Project CAMELOT, the technocrats aimed to improve and narrow their scope of influence. In 1967, Roy Hansen, as research for his dissertation as a member of RAND Corporation, interviewed dozens of military officials to gauge the influence of the Chilean Armed Forces throughout Chile. After finishing his study, Hansen’s recommendations were adopted by both the Chilean and U.S. Armed Forces to influence Chile, such as the complete overhaul of the curriculum at the Chilean War Academy. These recommendations influenced a dozen of military officials, who would later use that knowledge to understand the public sentiment to influence the masses throughout the late-1960s up to the 1973 coup. After the influence of the technocrats, the Chilean military officials used the bimonthly military journal, Memorial Del Ejército de Chile, to radicalize the enlisted men and purge those against the military takeover. Through the methods learned by the technocrats and the actions of the Chilean Armed Forces, the coup led by General Augusto Pinochet was not only bloodless but accepted by the masses.
Date
3-5-2021
Recommended Citation
Ramos Velez, Pedro Leandro, "The Technocrats' War: Winning the Hearts of the Chilean Armed Forces During the Cold War (1964-1973)" (2021). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 5471.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/5471
Committee Chair
Andes, Stephen
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.5471