A new generation of statesmen: Law, University, and the Social Question in Chile, 1860-1925

Abstract

The social question in Chile has been subject of discussion from diverse perspectives. Among the many answers that have been given to explain its salience in the beginning of the twentieth century, the generational variable seems to be one of the most adequate. Towards 1912, a new generation of the Chilean elite, beyond political divides, accepted the existence of grave social ills, and laid the foundations for their reform. This article suggests that the attitude of this new generation of Chilean politicians and intellectuals, more than to class adscription or political ties, was related to changes that were taking place in the legal education received in Chilean universities. Since at least 1887, the students educated in the law faculties were influenced by legal doctrines that questioned the philosophical foundations of the liberal State, and suggested reforms to address the legal vacuum that existed in the regulation of labor relations. Ultimately, the reforms which occurred in legal education influenced the way the new generation of 'statesmen' conceived the relation between State, society and welfare.