Abstract

This article examines the evolution of emotions and attitudes toward Chile’s constitutional process from the social uprising of October 2019 to the second attempt to draft a new constitution in 2023. Using a qualitative methodology based on focus groups with nonaffiliated, middle-class voters, the study explores the possible causes and consequences of this evolution and identifies the main differences between those who approved and those who rejected the first draft of the constitution. The analysis reveals a consistent pattern across groups: regardless of their electoral choice, participants experienced a sense of frustration linked to a loss of confidence in political institutions and in the constitutional process’s ability to produce meaningful change. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how both emotional and rational dimensions emerge as key factors explaining the transition from hope to political disaffection. © (2025), (Universidad de Guadalajara). All rights reserved.