Preface - Introduction - The erosion of traditional politics: world war I to the great depression - The birth of chilean socialism, 1932 - The social dimensions of the move to the left, 1931/33: the traditonal parties - The social dimensions of the move to the left, 1931/33: the parties of the workers - The growth of chilean socialism through coalition politics, 1933/38 - Victory of the popular front, 1938 - Institutionalization of chilean socialism through the Popular Front Administration, 1938/41 - The results of institutionalization through the Popular Front, 1940/41 - Decline of the socialist party, 1942/52 - Epilogue: the tragedy of socialism and populism, 1952/73 - Appendix - Bibliography - Index