How Chile’s Affinity Groups Resisted Pinochet’s Authoritarianism
I know that many of you, like me, are feeling afraid and looking for answer as to how to adapt to and resist extreme repression, while not assimilating to it. This is an especially difficult challenge for those of us who live in rural counties and small towns that have long been under single party, and increasingly authoritarian rule. In the search for possible answers, I often look beyond our border to communities around the world that have survived and and eventually overcome autocratic rule. One such community is Chile.
During Pinochet’s dictatorship in Chile (1973–1990), resistance wasn’t a headline-grabbing mass movement—it was a network of small, trusted groups quietly working together to undermine the regime. These affinity groups (grupos de afinidad) operated under the radar, leaning on trust, tight collaboration, and sheer resilience. They formed the backbone of nonviolent resistance, tackling oppression one neighborhood, one strike, one song at a time. Here’s how they worked:
1. Human Rights Groups
Who they were:
Vicaría de la Solidaridad (Vicariate of Solidarity): A Catholic Church initiative that documented human rights abuses and provided legal aid.
Comisión Chilena de Derechos Humanos (Chilean Human Rights Commission): Advocated for victims and exposed Pinochet’s crimes on the global stage.
What they did:
Documented the disappearances, torture, and killings that defined Pinochet’s reign.
Offered legal and psychological support to victims and their families.
Built alliances with international organizations to amplify pressure on the regime.
2. Women’s Affinity Groups
Who they were:
Movimiento de Mujeres por la Vida (Women’s Movement for Life): Mobilized against state violence and supported victims’ families.
Comités de Pobladoras (Committees of Women in Poor Urban Areas): Organized around the survival needs of women in marginalized communities.
What they did:
Used their roles as caregivers to create spaces for organizing that were less likely to be targeted by the regime.
Focused on food distribution, education, and mutual aid, while weaving resistance into everyday life.
Raised awareness about economic injustice and the specific ways women bore the brunt of state violence.
3. Labor and Union Networks
Who they were:
Confederación de Trabajadores del Cobre (Copper Workers’ Confederation): The backbone of strikes in Chile’s crucial mining sector.
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT, United Workers' Central): A coalition of underground unions resisting the regime’s neoliberal policies.
What they did:
Organized strikes, slowdowns, and other acts of workplace non-compliance to disrupt the regime’s economy.
Fought back against labor rights rollbacks and the privatization of key industries.
4. Student and Youth Groups
Who they were:
Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Chile (FECh): A university-based student federation.
Various underground youth organizations spreading anti-regime messages.
What they did:
Organized large protests, flash mobs, and symbolic acts of defiance.
Printed and distributed underground literature challenging the regime’s propaganda.
Inspired broader movements with their energy and visibility.
5. Cultural and Artistic Groups
Who they were:
Canto Nuevo Movement: Musicians and artists creating resistance-themed art.
Brigadas Muralistas (Muralist Brigades): Used graffiti and murals to spread anti-regime messages.
What they did:
Kept morale high through music, art, and storytelling that celebrated resistance.
Challenged the regime’s propaganda machine by creating a counter-cultural identity for the movement.
6. Religious Communities
Who they were:
Catholic and Protestant networks offering pastoral care and humanitarian aid.
What they did:
Provided sanctuary for activists and safe spaces for organizing.
Coordinated humanitarian relief for those targeted by the regime.
Used their moral authority to publicly denounce human rights abuses.
7. Neighborhood and Grassroots Organizations
Who they were:
Ollas Comunes (Community Kitchens): Coordinated communal cooking in response to economic hardship.
Local neighborhood committees organizing protests and mutual aid.
What they did:
Addressed immediate needs like food and healthcare while fostering collective action.
Built resilient networks that could mobilize quickly in response to opportunities for resistance.
8. Exile and International Solidarity Groups
Who they were:
Networks of Chileans in exile across Europe and the Americas.
What they did:
Raised global awareness of Pinochet’s crimes.
Organized fundraising and advocacy campaigns to pressure international governments and organizations to act.
Funneled resources back into Chile to support resistance efforts.
9. Underground Political Organizations
Who they were:
Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) and the Partido Comunista de Chile (Communist Party of Chile).
What they did:
Operated in the shadows to organize protests, strikes, and civil disobedience.
Built alliances with nonviolent groups to create a united opposition.
Why These Groups Mattered
These affinity groups didn’t just organize for survival. They created an alternative vision for Chile in the midst of oppression. By decentralizing their efforts and adapting to repression, they:
Outmaneuvered the regime: Small, flexible groups were harder to infiltrate or suppress.
Built broad-based resistance: They engaged everyone—students, workers, women, artists, and religious leaders.
Sustained morale: Through art, mutual aid, and solidarity, they created hope in dark times.
Prepared for transition: When Pinochet’s rule ended, these groups had laid the groundwork for accountability and rebuilding.
The Takeaway
Chile’s affinity groups show us that resistance isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about building trust, meeting people’s needs, and creating democratic spaces even under the most repressive regimes. Their creativity, adaptability, and persistence hold powerful lessons for anyone facing authoritarianism today. Resistance, at its core, is about community.