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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Chile
Index
Since the early decades after independence, Chile has
always
had an active involvement in international affairs. In
1837 the
country aggressively challenged the dominance of Peru's
port of
Callao for preeminence in the Pacific trade routes,
defeating the
short-lived alliance between Peru and Bolivia, the
Peru-Bolivia
Confederation (1836-39) in an international war. The war
left Chile
an important power in the Pacific. A second international
war, the
War of the Pacific (1879-83), further increased Chile's
regional
dominance and international prestige, while adding
considerably to
its territory. In the twentieth century, although Chile
did not
become involved in an international war, it continued to
maintain
one of the largest standing armies per population size in
the
region.
Because of the prestige of Chile's democratic
institutions,
Chile's diplomatic service is well respected, and Chile
has
influence far beyond the country's size or geostrategic
importance.
Over the years, Chile has played an active role in
promoting
multilateral institutions and supporting democratic and
human
rights principles. Because of its strong ideologically
based
multiparty system, Chileans have widespread contacts with
counterpart parties in Europe and are present in the
international
federations of Christian Democrats, Socialists, and
Communists.
These contacts contribute to Chile's European orientation.
During the nineteenth century, Chile's commercial ties
were
primarily with Britain, a country that had a decisive
influence on
the organization of the navy. Culturally and
intellectually,
Chileans felt close to France. The French influenced
Chile's legal
and educational systems and had a decisive impact on
Chilean
culture, including the architecture of the capital in the
boom
years at the turn of the century. German influence came
from
substantial German immigration to southern Chile and the
organization and training of the army by Prussians. Aside
from
important markets for Chilean wheat in California, the
United
States played a decidedly secondary role.
Data as of March 1994
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