In Latin America, the bicentennial of independence and the influence of the new political history have sparked interest in the process of state formation, political communities, ideas, and the role of the state in society and the economy. In light of this historiographical turn, Historia política de Chile, 1810–2010, a four-volume series coordinated by Iván Jaksić, examines the history of the country through the lens of the state and political processes. Previously published volumes addressed political practices (volume 1) and the state and society (volume 2). The volume under review, edited by Jaksić, Andrés Estefane, and Claudio Robles, focuses on the relationship between the state and the national economy, including issues such as industrialization, taxation, and foreign missions. The volume is not, the editors warn us, a comprehensive economic history of the country but an interdisciplinary discussion of some key elements of Chile's political economy.
In their introduction, the...