Salvador Allende Gossens was the Socialist President of Chile, elected by a popular vote in 1970, and was eventually replaced by the notorious Augusto Pinochet. The circumstances surrounding Allende's death remain unclear, with some reporting that he committed suicide, while others suggest that his death was caused by a fire started by invading troops during the military coup that ousted him from office.
In retrospect, many believe that Allende's downfall was the result of the conflicts between the Chilean Left and Right. The Left, which drew its support from the urban poor and working class, was pitted against the Right, which was supported by a cohesive upper class that was able to mobilize its resources from agrarian and industrial interests.
The Right was also able to persuade the middle class to join its ranks, and the threat of Allende's Socialist policies made his administration vulnerable to the assault of a much larger and better-financed political Right. Moreover, his administration faced hostility from the United States during the Cold War era, which saw his rise to power as a "Socialist" threat to American democracy and capitalism.
Many records confirm that the United States subsidized anti-Allende strikes and vowed its support to the military, which was vehemently opposed to his administration. Unfortunately, Chile inherited Pinochet as a military dictator in 1973, and Pinochet has since been charged with war crimes for atrocities committed against opponents of his totalitarian regime.
Allende's brief three years as President of Chile, from 1970, are seen by his supporters and admirers as one man's efforts to neutralize the tyranny and economic hegemony of the upper classes and elites. His detractors, on the other hand, view him as a man who threatened the Chilean economy with Socialist economic policy.
His administration and his death will undoubtedly continue to be discussed and debated for years to come. It is worth noting that many members of Allende's family were forced to leave Chile, but have nevertheless done quite well for themselves. The most notable and visible of his survivors is critically and popularly acclaimed author Isabel Allende, his niece.
Isabel Allende is a renowned Chilean-American novelist and author, best known for her bestselling novel "The House of the Spirits". She was born in 1942 in Lima, Peru, to a Chilean family, and grew up in Chile. She is the daughter of Francisco Allende, a cousin of Salvador Allende, and his wife, Francisca Flores de Allende.
