Whiteness, Imperialism, and Cultural Reproduction: Unveiling Global Racial Influences in Post-Dictatorial Chilean Society

Chile's participation in Western imperialism has fostered perceptions of desirability linked to whiteness and imperial cultural values. The country has emulated Western ideas, including cultural aesthetics and education models, to assert a desirable Western identity and proximity to imperial power. This closeness enhanced Chilean governability along imperial lines yet also generated resistance to neoliberal policies that diverged from these norms. Despite political and economic shifts, Chile's constitutional resistance indicates the deep roots of imperial emulation in shaping identity and governance. About half of the Chilean population places great significance on religious and spiritual convictions, which inform their life choices, extending to political and societal matters (PUC 2023). Thus, it is essential to investigate how these beliefs are currently shaped. The political and social elites, who influence public perspectives through consumer choices and trends, predominantly emerge from a select group of private educational institutions. Nine exclusive private schools hold prominence in this context (Barrera, Falabella, and Ilabaca 2021). This underscores the significance of private schools in Chilean society as instruments for elite cultivation and symbols of aspirational socioeconomic impact. In this project, I aim to explore the cultural impact of the United States on regions like Chile and its implications for governance and resistance against neoliberal projects. My research examines distinct domains of global influence: (1) the ascent of the religious-political right, (2) the role of Anglo-Saxon-inspired education in private schools, and (3) the interplay between education, religion, and politics in sustaining neoliberal institutions. Through this exploration, I seek to reveal diverse reinterpretations of whiteness and value within the context of U.S. influence.