Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Episode: Chile's Feminist Social Revolution

Date: August 12, 2021

Episode Overview

This episode of Economic Update centers on the surge of feminist-driven social revolution in Chile, the dismantling of patriarchal and neoliberal systems, and the creation of the world's first democratically gender-parity-based constitution. In the first half, host Richard D. Wolff provides updates on significant recent events in U.S. politics and economics, such as India Walton's mayoral victory in Buffalo, NY, the realities of unemployment insurance, labor organizing efforts at Amazon, and the human costs of the post-9/11 wars. The second half features a rich interview with Chilean activist Rodrigo Roa Fernandez, who details the ongoing transformation in Chile—one rooted in feminism, participatory democracy, and a decisive rejection of both patriarchy and neoliberal capitalism.

Part I: U.S. Economic and Political Highlights

India Walton's Historic Victory in Buffalo (00:10-05:00)

• Theme: Changing political consciousness in the U.S. with a socialist Democrat winning Buffalo’s mayoral race.
• India Walton, endorsed by both the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated a four-term incumbent.
• Highlighted the intersection of police reform and COVID response as pillars of her campaign.
• Notable Quote:
  "The notion that became popular that there was an American exceptionalism that made Americans...uniquely uninterested in and unsympathetic towards socialism, is now exposed for the inaccuracy it always represented."
  — Richard D. Wolff (04:20)

Unemployment Insurance Realities (05:00–10:00)

• Average unemployment insurance payout is only 40% of previous wages; coverage is typically capped at 26 weeks, sometimes as little as 12.
• Systemic incentives exist for governments and employers to reduce unemployment support.
• Gig workers miss out on these benefits entirely, encouraging the shift to gig contracts at workers’ expense.
• Notable Quote:
  "That’s a perverse incentive… It's bad for unemployed people...but it advantages the employer. Should sound familiar."
  — Richard D. Wolff (09:15)

Labor Movement Update: Teamsters Target Amazon (10:00–12:00)

• The Teamsters declared Amazon the clearest example of American working-class failure and named it as an organizing target.
• Cited wage theft, fraudulent classifications, excessive quotas, hazardous conditions, and more.
• Notable Quote (Teamsters Statement):
  "...Amazon exploits its employees, contractors and employees of contractors via wage theft, fraudulent classification, intense production quotas, dehumanizing work environments..."
  — Richard D. Wolff quoting the Teamsters (11:00)

The Hidden Costs of War: Veteran Suicides vs. Combat Deaths (12:00–14:00)

• Since 9/11: 7,057 U.S. combat deaths vs. 30,177 suicides among troops and veterans—highlighting the long-term human toll.
• Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq deemed geopolitical failures, with benefits accruing mainly to defense contractors.
• Notable Quote:
  "It’s almost that the only people you can think of who won were the defense contractors. They made a lot of money, but the rest of us, not so much."
  — Richard D. Wolff (13:45)

Part II: Interview with Rodrigo Roa Fernandez – Chile's Feminist Social Revolution

Introducing Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (15:45–16:24)

• Chilean worker and member of Convergencia Social, part of Frente Amplio—a left coalition.
• Frente Amplio pushes for decentralization, democratization, and a break with 40 years of patriarchal neoliberalism.
• Current focus: incorporating worker cooperatives into Chile’s new constitution and presidential campaign.

The Feminist Heart of Chile's Revolution (16:24–17:26)

• Rodrigo: Feminism is "the key element in this democratic revolution."
• Aim: transition from patriarchal to matriarchal (or at least gender-equal) society, fully democratized.
• For the first time in world history, Chile’s constitution will be crafted with 50% men and 50% women by mandate.
• Notable Quote:
  "For the first time in the human race, democratic constitution will be written by 50% ladies, 50% men. Never before in any country in the world that gender parity took place democratically."
  — Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (16:50)

Breaking Neoliberal and Patriarchal Chains (17:27–18:28)

• The revolution seeks to "rebuild Social Security for families and workers," in contrast to decades of privatization and extreme neoliberal policies imposed post-Allende.
• Women’s leadership is seen as key to fostering solidarity and truly overcoming neoliberalism and patriarchy.
• Notable Quote:
  "We believe that with this new view that women are bringing for solidarity, liberty and equality...will change and will overcome the new liberalism."
  — Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (18:15)

The Rise of Women's Leadership in Chile (18:28–19:37)

• Rodrigo credits the rejection of domination by men as the driving force behind women’s political ascendancy.
• Men explaining women’s needs is seen as outdated; the movement's goal is to center women’s voices at all levels.
• Notable Quote:
  "Domination. They don't want to be dominated anymore by us... I feel ashamed to be explaining to you what they think they should be."
  — Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (18:52)

Vision for a Post-Capitalist, Feminist Chile (20:26–21:07)

• The new assembly seeks to overcome "private capitalism in the version of neoliberalism," substituting it with "democratic socialism, a feminist democratic socialism with gender parity at the base."
• Worker self-directed enterprises (cooperatives) are emphasized as essential.
• Notable Quote:
  "We want to democratically establish...a feminist democratic socialism with gender parity in the base and a plural national new constitution. And we want to overcome...vertical domination."
  — Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (20:30)

U.S.-Chile Relations: Hopes and Fears (21:58–23:20)

• Chilean activists value ties with U.S. workers but express deep trauma from U.S. interference (i.e., 1973 coup).
• Urged President Biden to pledge non-interference in Chile’s sovereign affairs.
• Notable Quote:
  "We have an intergenerational trauma after knowing that the CIA...were involved in the coup d’état in 1973. And we are very afraid that something like that may happen again."
  — Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (22:20)

Can Chile Be a Feminist Model for Latin America? (24:25–25:20)

• Rodrigo sees the Chilean experiment as a possible template for the region, if collaboration and equality can replace "selfishness" and "greed."
• Calls for "50% and 50% men and ladies need to rule the world democratically."
• Notable Quote:
  "If we don't collaborate, we don't help each other, we don't overcome the selfishness, the greediness...we will not make it. We are facing difficulties globally."
  — Rodrigo Roa Fernandez (24:35)

Closing Reflections

• Wolff notes the historic significance of making the feminist revolution central—breaking with past leftist failures to fully include women.
• Both agree that giving space to women leaders on future episodes would strengthen the narrative and global understanding.

Memorable Final Quotes

• Wolff: "It is extraordinarily important that a revolutionary movement that comes out of that tradition wants to break with the patriarchal component of that tradition. And that makes your experiment there in Chile even more important." (25:45)
• Rodrigo’s Hope: "Participation of the basis of their society, workers. And of course this is what we expect to be a model. And as I said, hopefully a lady will be in your show from Chile saying this to you." (25:10)

Important Timestamps

• 00:10–05:00: Buffalo socialism and changing U.S. politics
• 05:00–10:00: The truths behind unemployment insurance
• 10:00–12:00: Teamsters take on Amazon
• 12:00–14:00: The real human cost of U.S. wars
• 15:45–16:24: Introducing Rodrigo Roa Fernandez
• 16:24–17:26: The feminist basis for Chile’s new constitution
• 17:27–18:28: Overcoming neoliberal and patriarchal systems
• 18:28–19:37: Women’s leadership in Chile’s revolution
• 20:26–21:07: Capitalism, socialism, and worker cooperatives in Chile
• 21:58–23:20: U.S. labor solidarity and legacy of interference in Chile
• 24:25–25:20: Chile as a feminist model for Latin America

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is earnest, hopeful, and marked by a sense of global responsibility. Rodrigo’s humility (openly wishing a woman was representing the Chilean movement on air), the clear-eyed assessment of the obstacles, and the drive to model a post-patriarchal, post-neoliberal society give the episode an important and energizing tone, while Wolff’s reflections connect these Chilean lessons to ongoing struggles in the U.S. and around the world.