John speaks to Chilean political scientist Dr Camila Vergara (@Camila_Vergara) about constitutions, populism and systemic corruption. Her first book, República Plebeya, meshes her research interests, and an adaptation will be published in English by Princeton University Press later this year.

On 25 October 2020, Chile will vote in a constitutional referendum to decide whether the Pinochet-era 1980 document will be replaced. In this interview, Camila gave some fascinating insights into how the provisions enshrined by a constitution are manifested in societies, how the Chilean people could be incorporated into the process, and how the demands of a social movement that has rocked Chile since October last year are rooted in the current constitution.

Camila's first book, República Plebeya (in Spanish): https://www.lakomuna.cl/tienda/product/1435_republica-plebeya

An English adaptation (forthcoming): https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691207537/systemic-corruption

The Meaning of Chile’s Explosion (Jacobin): https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/10/chile-protests-sebastian-pinera-constitution-neoliberalism

Yendo de la calle al cabildo: vías para un proceso constituyente popular (CIPER): (https://ciperchile.cl/2020/01/29/yendo-de-la-calle-al-cabildo-vias-para-un-proceso-constituyente-popular/)

Follow us on social media: @MiradasPodEmail us: [email protected] our website: www.miradaspodcast.com