Looting and self defense

Social impact in Chile post

Abstract

The looting and self-defense of the neighborhoods, which occurred in Chile after the 27 / F earthquake, are related and are triggered by crisis situations such as that caused by the disaster. The difficulty of the authorities to respond to the needs of the population along with "alarmist" information provided by the media contributed to a sense of insecurity and vulnerability. The endo and exo group dynamics are accentuated. Among those who looted and among those who defended themselves, a dangerous “other” appears that corresponds to the stereotypes associated with poverty. On the other hand, social inequality and the search for status contribute to plundering as an act of social reparation, in which people from different social classes participate. Therefore, the pre-disaster social context associated with a neo-liberal economic model favors the social violence expressed in these phenomena.