A surge in organized crime, domestic violence, and physical attacks on public officials is becoming a normalized part of Chilean social life, according to an opinion piece by lawyer and professor Hernán Larraín L. published by latercera.com.
Larraín describes a landscape where gang activity in low-income neighborhoods, sexual abuse within families, and extortion are increasing in intensity. He notes that criminal actions have taken on a new, organized dimension that frequently results in murder and kidnapping.
Schools are also experiencing a breakdown in safety. The report highlights new forms of bullying involving physical humiliation, the use of sharp weapons, and even Molotov cocktails thrown into school grounds.
Erosion of institutional authority
Violence has extended to educators and public figures. Larraín points to recent armed attacks against teachers, one of which resulted in a fatality.
He also highlighted a recent attack on a minister at a prestigious university. The author criticized the university rector for a "pusillanimous" response driven by ideological commitments, arguing the incident violated the university's fundamental purpose as a space for peaceful, rational debate.
This local trend mirrors a broader global pattern of conflict. Larraín notes that continuous wars are destroying infrastructure and lives worldwide, even leading to the justification of the disappearance of entire civilizations.
According to the piece in latercera.com, the crisis is not an isolated series of events but a systemic failure of the norms that govern human behavior. These principles, traditionally taught by families, schools, and religions, are failing to contain violent impulses.
Larraín argues that the root of the problem requires deep self-criticism and fundamental structural reactions. Without such intervention, he warns, the country risks retreating into a state of barbarism.
