republic · South America

Socialist Republic of Chile

1932 CE – 1932 CE · capital Santiago

A Chilean socialist republic proclaimed by military officers in June 1932, which lasted only twelve days before a counter-coup.

Origins

Chile was hit severely by the Great Depression, which collapsed nitrate and copper exports. On 4 June 1932 the air force commander Marmaduke Grove and other officers, with the politicians Carlos Dávila and Eugenio Matte, overthrew President Juan Esteban Montero and proclaimed the Socialist Republic of Chile.

Rule and society

A governing junta announced radical measures, including the dissolution of Congress, the distribution of land, the release of goods pawned by the poor, and plans to nationalise key industries. Divisions quickly emerged between Grove's more radical socialism and Dávila's moderate state socialism. Opposition from the army and conservative groups grew.

Decline and legacy

On 16 June 1932 Dávila ousted Grove and Matte, who were exiled to Easter Island. Dávila ruled until September, and after further instability, elections in October 1932 returned Arturo Alessandri to the presidency of the Republic of Chile. Grove later helped found the Socialist Party.

Connections (1)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Socialist Republic of Chile. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/socialist-republic-of-chile
MLA
“Socialist Republic of Chile.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/socialist-republic-of-chile. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Socialist Republic of Chile.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/socialist-republic-of-chile.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Socialist Republic of Chile’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/socialist-republic-of-chile (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻