Objective/Context:

Chile, in the current decade, has experienced an increase in socio-environmental conflicts. The present article analyzes the Chilean State´s political-normative design for investment projects and its role in such socio-environmental conflicts. It contrasts the State´s policies with its citizens´ views of that design.

Methodology:

Towards that end, the article uses a quantitative approach, with a survey of the Chilean population´s opinions about such investment projects. The results of the survey are then compared with studies done by the Ministry of the Environment and the Andrés Bello University in order to validate the findings.

Conclusions:

Our findings show that the values underlying the normative-political design are not shared by the governed and cause frictions with the State which lead to socio-environmental conflicts.

Originality:

This article, which lies in the field of political science and public administration, is meant to contribute to the meagre body of research into the causes of socio-environmental conflicts from the standpoint of the configuration and functioning of the State apparatus.