Chile: 15 Years of Democracy

November 17, 2005 - 2:00 pm

H.E. Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations

Chile since the early 90’s has undergone a series of political and state reform to install democratic regime with legitimate institutions. This Bildner presentation will appraise the achievements and the challenges of the Chilean path to democracy and reform.

Ambassador Muñoz has been Chile’s representative to the U.N. since 2003 and was President of the U.N. Security Council in January 2004. Prior to his appointment to the U.N., he was Minister Secretary-General and Deputy Foreign Minister in the administration of President Ricardo Lagos. He was also Chile’s Ambassador to Brazil (1994-98) and Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1990-94). Heraldo Muñoz co-founded the Party for Democracy (PPD), and served as Secretary of International Relations and Member of the Central Committee in the Socialist Party of Chile. He has written and edited more than 20 books, including Latin American Nations in World Politics (Westview Press, 1998) and Globalización XXI (Santiago: Aguilar, 2000). He has published extensively in academic journals such as Foreigh Policy, The Journal of Democracy, The Latin American Research Review, and The Journal of Interamerican and World Affairs. He holds a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Denver, a Diploma in International Relations from the Catholic University of Chile, and a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York.