The Pinochet dictatorship refers to the authoritarian regime led by General Augusto Pinochet in Chile from 1973 to 1990. It began after a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected president, Salvador Allende. Pinochet's government was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including torture, forced disappearances, and censorship. During his rule, Pinochet implemented neoliberal economic reforms that transformed the Chilean economy. While these policies led to economic growth, they also increased inequality and social unrest. The dictatorship ended in 1990, leading to a return to democracy and ongoing debates about its legacy in Chilean society.