The Southern Tiger

Ricardo Lagos has been shaping the future of Chile for over five decades. A leader in the underground resistance movement against Augusto Pinochet and his Dirty War, Lagos exploded onto the national stage in 1988 when he gave a speech denouncing the dictator, the first of its kind. Revolution soon followed as Chileans took to the streets in one of the first oustings of a criminal dictator in history. In The Southern Tiger, Lagos shares the story of Chile's journey from terror and repression to a thriving open society during his presidency. Chile has emerged from crushing poverty to become one of the wealthiest nations in Latin America and adopted a centrist government that avoids the hard-line traps on both left and right. Just in time for the current wave of populist uprisings, Chile offers a sustainable political and economic model for new democracies to follow. This is a fascinating look at Chile's rise under a charismatic and visionary leader and its role in today's global community.