New thinking challenges the view that censorship under authoritarian rule is solely about silencing dissent. This article examines how dictatorships might use cultural regulation strategically.
During Chile's Pinochet era, film censors banned movies not just for political reasons but also as rewards to specific groups aligned with the regime. Text analysis of all 8000 films reviewed during this period reveals a clear pattern: censorship focused on moral content rather than politics.
The study uses mixed methods—qualitative review and quantitative data—to demonstrate that these bans were systematic, targeting conservative Catholic supporters who backed Pinochet's rule.
Key findings show:
- Censorship prioritized immorality allegations over political sensitivity
- Ban patterns contradicted claims of purely masked political motives or distributor self-censorship
- The regime actively used this mechanism to reward loyal groups through cultural control
This research reveals an unexpected dimension of authoritarian power: the ability to strategically deploy repression as a tool for maintaining alliances and support.
