Since Chile's 1990 return to democracy, the relationship between big business and politics has been a defining factor in shaping state policy. Chilean business groups expanded their financial power and political influence through campaign financing, business associations, and the revolving door between public and private sectors.
In this context, the Luksic Group has established itself as one of Chile’s most influential economic groups. Its expansion went hand in hand with the gradual growth of political networks—connections built over decades that in the long run shaped the business culture and corporate influence of the country's elite.
To study this phenomenon, Usach historian Dr. José Ponce is leading a Fondecyt Initiation project to analyze how the Luksic Group built a powerful network of influence within the Chilean state.
“For many, business leaders are powerful actors. However, the key question is how that political power operates and when it begins to take shape. It is also crucial to understand how it is reconstructed over time. The key is to analyze how the Luksic Group has shaped business culture in Chile,” explained Dr. Ponce.
The study focuses on three main dimensions: electoral financing; the revolving door—the movement of officials between the public and private sectors; and political influence exerted through business associations.
“One of the central contributions of this research is examining economic groups beyond their productive role. They are generally viewed strictly as economic actors, as investors or job creators. Still, we are writing a political history of the Luksic Group, because they are also political actors,” states Ponce.
Along these lines, the study delves into how the Luksic Group developed political influence strategies to expand its reach across the Chilean political system and maintain strategic ties.
“One of the core hypotheses is that they pursue a pragmatic political strategy. They not only influence right-wing parties, as was historically common, but also exert influence on the center-left and sectors of the Socialist Party,” explained the researcher.
To conduct the study, the team, led by Dr. José Ponce alongside Usach undergraduate and graduate students, uses a methodology combining historical press analysis, institutional archives, and interviews with union leaders and business advisors. In addition, the research examines court records to observe these political dynamics across different contexts.
The three-year Usach research project includes a public dissemination strategy via the digital platform Redes de Poder (Power Networks), designed to make this historical content accessible to a broader audience.
In terms of impact, the study aims to enrich the public debate on how large economic groups influence Chilean democracy. “Today, the goal is for people to have access to more information and to develop a critical perspective on these processes,” concludes Dr. Ponce.