Significations of democracy in presidential messages. Chile, 1990-2014

Abstract

The object of this article is to observe the significations assumed by democracy in the inaugural speech given by every president of Chile to Congress in plenary session, during the period 1990-2014. It is intended to highlight
the place of discourse in political dynamics; and also to describe the relations of continuity and rupture in the hegemonic meanings that have circulated – as attributes of this key signifier of political language – in the Chilean political field since the restoration of democracy in 1990.