Research: Partir

A research work has been carried out about the immigration in Chile and what xenophobia means.

For La Huella Teatro it is important to take this issue due to the contingency that it has today in Chile and the world, to talk about the border, the territory and its anthropological behavior.

Immigration in Chile corresponds to the displacement of various foreign communities to the country. The Chilean population received immigrants mainly from Latin America, Europe and the Near East during the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Currently, immigrants are mainly of American origin (especially from neighboring countries).

Currently, immigration from neighboring countries to Chile is the most important, and since 2004 it has increased up to 50% mainly from Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador.

The reactions of Chilean people to immigration received by the country are diverse and similar to those of other countries receiving immigration. For certain groups, the growth in the number of immigrants represent a problem, as there is a popular belief that their immigration restricts nationals’ job opportunities. There have even been attacks on immigrants by xenophobic and racist groups and individuals.

On the other hand, there are other groups that consider immigration to be beneficial as a form of diversification of the country, also proposing that immigration is a natural demographic process of the human being and that Chileans have also emigrated for various reasons throughout history.