On the road to equality? Social Policy in Brasil and Chile after the “shift to the left”

Abstract

This contribution investigates social policy initiatives by the social democratic governments Michelle Bachelet (2006–2011) in Chile and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003–2011) in Brazil, which are both associated with a shift to the left in their respective national contexts. The central question raised, is whether the initiated reforms promote equality and represent a break with neoliberal paradigms of social policy. To assess current changes, they are evaluated within a larger historical perspective of the political economy. The analysis of the two countries’ welfare regimes is based on Esping-Andersen’s institutional approach. Referring to the categories universalization, commodification/anti-value, de-familiarization, and informality, the authors evaluate, in how Lula’s and Bachelet’s politics can be characterized as social democratic.