Chile's government will struggle with Mapuche conflict

Subject

Renewed Mapuche conflicts.

Significance

The death of a young Mapuche man, during a police operation in southern Chile’s Araucania Region on November 14, has once again highlighted the longstanding problem of the state’s troubled relations with the country’s largest indigenous group and the persistent violence in parts of what was their traditional homeland. It is also a major setback for centre-right President Sebastian Pinera who, on taking office in March, made “peace in the Araucania Region” one of his five key promises.

Impacts

• A whole generation of Mapuche young people is growing up distrusting the state.
• The conflict calls for long-term measures that are unlikely to produce significant results within the life of a single government.
• The police’s lack of credibility in the region will facilitate criminal activities such as the sale of stolen wood.