Right-wing parties in Chile have consistently shown a contrary position to recognize special rights to indigenous peoples. The arguments for this position are based on issues concerning the unity of the nation, national security and defense of private property. Politically, this is evident in their consistent resistance to approve legislative initiatives, for example, on the constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples and/or showing reluctance on accepting the principles of autonomy and self-governance of such groups.
However, when the percentage of the votes won by right-wing parties in municipal, legislative and presidential elections are examined, it appears that their policy does not prevent important segments of the indigenous population to favor them. The central question guiding this research is what is it that causes this apparent contradiction? What explains that a segment of Indian society is inclined to a political party that apparently acts against their interests?
The hypothesis of this study shares the diagnosis made by some authors when they identify the development of non-programmatic linkages between the right-wing parties and poor populations.At the same time, it is suggested that while it is true that the “indigenous issues” are present in the speech of indigenous communities, by no means they are part of the more important issues when voting. When living under high social inequality, solving immediate problems tends to be more relevant at the moment of issuing a preference.