Foreshocks of Revolution: The 1960 Valdivia Earthquake, An Environmental Road Toward Socialism

Abstract

The 1960 Valdivia earthquakes set the stage for drastic change in the city of Valdivia, southern Chile, and eventual larger ramifications on the Nation. In 1969, the people of Chile accomplished the impossible, they elected the first Socialist President, Salvador Allende in a democratic election. From a macro perspective the election of Allende was indeed a revolution, but by examining the election through Valdivia’s natural environment, the election was part of evolutionary politics grounded in Chile’s natural environment. Focusing on the city of Valdivia and its progressive changes from its economic downturn in the 1950s to its massive earthquake in 1960, there is an advancement of changes that led to the election of Salvador Allende. When the 9.5 earthquake struck in 1960 it only heightened the need for change and the integration of the marginalized: working class, rural farmers, and indigenous people. The two previous presidents, Jorge Alessandri and Eduardo Frei took on the task of fixing these social issues, including housing, and attempting to incorporate southern Agriculture into the Nation’s Economic development as the nation leaders fought against inflation. For over a decade the issues did not change: housing, economic development, and integration of the marginalized. Their efforts of reconstruction and integration led to many of the rural population migrating to the city seeking both shelter and work. By focusing on Valdivia, the election of Salvador Allende could be better understood as an evolution rather than a revolution grounded in Valdivia’s natural environment and the 1960 earthquakes.