The Inside Story Podcast What's behind South America's shift to the right?
Dec 16, 2025
Claudio Barrientos, a historian at Diego Portales University, discusses how Chile's failed constitutional reform led to a conservative resurgence. Jose Ragas, an assistant professor at Catholic University, frames this shift as a protest vote amid broader regional trends. Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow at Chatham House, warns of the geopolitical implications, linking Latin America's rightward turn to Trump's influence on themes like crime and immigration. Together, they explore the future of leftist movements and the volatility of political landscapes across South America.
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Conservative Momentum Began Before Kast
- The conservative rise in Chile began after the 2022 rejection of a constitutional rewrite and has been building since 2019 unrest.
- Claudio Barrientos says disappointment with the left's delivery helped crystallize support for the extreme right.
Tough On Crime, Soft On Trade
- Jose Antonio Kast won by exploiting public concerns about crime and immigration while keeping pro-market economics.
- Christopher Sabatini predicts continuity on free trade but a shift to tougher law-and-order and socially conservative policies.
Dual Forces Behind The Rightward Turn
- The rightward turn reflects both protest against underperforming left governments and a broader regional realignment.
- Jose Ragas links the trend to a re-emergence of radical right forces coalescing around immigration, security, and the economy.