Not all is lost

El Líbero, January 19, 2024

Those who govern us today have arrived late to the fight against organized crime, but the opportunity remains. Let us not waste it.

Institutions are at risk. Not only institutions, but the rule of law and the State are also at risk. Unreported meetings with business leaders under the lobby law, fraud in municipalities, the Convenios case, and the formalization of the General Director of Carabineros are evidence of this.

Today, everything is in question, and while the danger may be political, it is much more complex than that, as democracy is at stake and institutional weakness deepens. This weakness may be expressed in the failure to enforce regulations, either due to the incapacity of those in charge or simply because they do not want to do so. Whatever the case, the damage to Chile is significant.

At a time when our threats constantly seek to strip power from the State, we cannot allow institutional regression by even a millimeter, as that is enough for crime to advance.

Organized crime destroys the heart of society: the family. It isolates individuals from one another, and the fear of becoming victims of a crime confines them to their homes, undermining opportunities to build community— a community committed to its neighborhood, its city, and that contributes positively to social development, strengthens democracy through civic participation, and safeguards the integrity of the rule of law. Ultimately, organized crime destroys what is most important for the State: its social cohesion.

That sense of belonging provided by institutions and their symbols is fundamental for the health of the State. Only in this way can its citizens be part of a project and commit to it. That is the essence of the Social Contract!

The project called Chile is at risk. With its institutions under suspicion and fraud cases filling headlines, the sense of belonging is fading. It has only slightly improved due to the security crisis the country is experiencing, which is fueled by that loss.

The history of Latin America is one of enchantments and disenchantments, political ups and downs that have ended the hopes of many and forced others to seek opportunities in other lands, leaving space for crime and delinquency to consolidate powerfully in the region.

The history of Chile, on the other hand, is one of effort, of crossing mountains and deserts only to encounter a warrior indigenous population, willing to give everything to maintain its position. It is the story of a people who found unity in diversity, who faced challenges with courage, and built a solid State that has served as an example to many.

That same courage of the past must guide the country today and serve as energy for our future leaders to confront one of the greatest challenges that threatens to destroy the State. Those who govern us today have arrived late to the fight against organized crime, but the opportunity remains. Let us not waste it; let us take responsibility and restore to Chileans the hope that everything can be better.

Pilar Lizana
Researcher, AthenaLab

Source: El Líbero