The book examines the political importance of moral opposition to authoritarian rule in Chile, 1973-90, as a challenge to the government''s systematic human rights'' violations. It was initially led by the Catholic Church, whose primate founded an organisation to defend human rights: the Vicariate of Solidarity (1976-92). The book assesses the impact of moral opposition as a force for redemocratisation by tracing the history and achievements of the Vicariate. It also argues that such moral matters are often underestimated in regime transition analysis.

The book examines the political importance of moral opposition to authoritarian rule in Chile, 1973-90, as a challenge to the government''s systematic human rights'' violations. It was initially led by the Catholic Church, whose primate founded an organisation to defend human rights: the Vicariate of Solidarity (1976-92). The book assesses the impact of moral opposition as a force for redemocratisation by tracing the history and achievements of the Vicariate. It also argues that such moral matters are often underestimated in regime transition analysis.