The Overthrow of Allende and the Politics of Chile, 1964-1976 - (Pitt Latin American) by Paul Sigmund (Paperback)

About the Book

An exhaustive, balanced analysis of the overthrow of Salvador Allende, and why it occurred. Paul e. Sigmund examines the Allende government, the Frei government that preceeded it, the coup that ended it, and the Pinochet government that succeeded it. He also views the roles of various Chilean political and interest groups, the CIA, and U.S. corporations.

Book Synopsis

Paul Sigmund, who has studied Chile for more than a decade, and lived and taught there, offers an exhaustive, balanced analysis of the overthrow of Salvador Allende, and why it occurred. Sigmund examines the Allende government, the Frei government that preceeded it, the coup that ended it, and the Pinochet government that succeeded it. He also views the roles of various Chilean political and interest groups, the CIA, and U.S. corporations.

Review Quotes

A permanently significant contribution to the debate on the Allende years.-- "American Political Science Review"

Countless books have appeared that examine the events surrounding the fall of the Salvador Allende government and the reasons for its collapse. . . . none has been as scrupulously objective as this work by Paul Sigmund. . . . Without question, this book will stand as one of the most significant works on the Allende era for many years to come.-- "Hispanic American Historical Review"

It is to the credit of Paul Sigmund that he has managed to break out of obviously self-interested patterns to present us with a recent political history of Chile which intelligently discriminates between truths and distortions.-- "Pacific Historical Review"

Sigmund's book is a convincing vindication of contemporary history as an exercise. It is an admirably serious account, interweaving narrative and analysis, which could safely be recommended to that far from mythical creature, the intelligent general reader with no great knowledge of Chile and no special acquaintance with left-wing debate.-- "Journal of Latin American Studies"

This study by a well-known specialist in Latin American politics is a welcome addition to the vast bibliography on the Popular Unity government in Chile. . . . Sigmund's book is a very good scholarly study that should be read by everyone interested in the Allende period.-- "American Historical Review"

About the Author

Paul E. Sigmund is professor of politics at Princeton University.