( CNN ) -- Viva Chile . Late last winter , Chile was shaken first by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake and , later , looting and military police hitting the streets . In August , the San Jose mine collapsed , threatening the lives of 33 men trapped a half-mile underground and further testing the upstart South American country 's psyche weeks ahead of its bicentennial commemoration . But this week , Chile came alive -- in the eyes of its citizens , as well as the world . Copiapo , which could have been the site of mass mourning had the miners ' rescue effort gone awry , instead became home to a patriotic festival . The strong national pride was omnipresent : from the red , white and blue Chilean flags that permeated the rescue site to the chants that rang out as the miners rose to the surface . It was clear , too , many miles away -- whether it was the hugs and tears of joy among the throngs watching the scene on a flickering big-screen TV set up in a Santiago city square , the champagne corks popping at the Chilean embassy in Washington , or countless bite-sized conversations in the vast reaches of cyberspace where the Chilean miners were a top trending discussion on Twitter . `` What emotion ! What happiness ! What pride to be Chilean ! '' wrote Chilean President Sebastian Pinera , on his own Twitter page . Like many emerging countries , Chile has not been without its challenges . It continues to emerge from the shadows of dictator Augusto Pinochet 's rule from 1974 to 1990 , when up to 30,000 people vanished or were killed because of their political beliefs . Economic disparities and political divisions still exist , with the global recession having a real impact in this Andean nation . Yet , its past and recent challenges notwithstanding , Chile has also emerged as a model in Latin America and the world , given its solid economic base and fervent democracy . `` Chile is ... a country with really strong institutions , '' said Peter DeShazo , director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies . `` And it 's economy has done really well . '' While it could have been a calamity , the San Jose mine rescue effort instead turned into a celebration , not just of the miners ' survival but also the nation 's collective ability ( with help from international friends ) to safely extricate them . Thus , this week 's rescue effort gave Chileans a good reason and made-for-TV stage to show off their longstanding patriot fervor to the world . `` Chileans , in general , have a strong sense of national identity , '' said Susan Purcell , director of the University of Miami 's Center for Hemispheric Policy . `` And with this episode , it 's like they did everything right . '' Since Pinochet , Chile has experienced significant economic growth and steady inroads combating corruption and poverty . But until now , Chile rarely had been front-and-center in most everyday discussions of Latin America , which are more likely to be dominated by Brazil 's booming development , communist Cuba , Colombia 's civil war and Venezuela under leftist leader Hugo Chavez . Thus , while international policymakers and business leaders have seen ( and , in some cases , been party to ) its development , the mine collapse and rescue effort were many people 's first sustained exposure to Chile , its people and its potential . `` Chile should be held up as a model , but it often is n't , '' said Purcell . `` I do n't know if ( the rescue ) changes the image of Chile , or it creates an image of Chile . '' Led by President Pinera , the rescue effort and Chile were very much intertwined . Government officials frequently appeared before TV cameras , Chilean flags abounded and patriotic chants rang out regularly . The loudest and emotional could be heard when the miners emerged : `` Chi ! Chi ! Chi ! Le ! Le ! Le ! Los mineros de Chile ! '' That was no accident , said Nara Milanich , a professor at New York 's Barnard College specializing in Chile . Pinera , who had seen his popularity drop since taking office last March , took control of the situation and played to the cameras , she said . Camp Hope sprung up , as a temporary home to miners ' families as well as the scores of global media who descended on the scene . `` They are so conscious that the world is watching , '' said Milanich . `` This is as genuinely Chilean as Baywatch is genuinely American . This is a TV show . '' Still , for all the production set-ups and political posturing , Milanich said that Chileans ' joy was true and widely felt . While the release came at a critical time for Chileans , who wrestled with `` soul-searching '' after the quake and during the bicentennial commemoration , it reflected citizens ' deep-rooted sense that Chile is worth celebrating . And in Latin America -- especially given Chile 's rivalry with Andean neighbors Bolivia and Peru dating back to the 19th century War of the Pacific -- such self-congratulation among Chileans is almost expected and sometimes resented . `` I do n't think Chileans suffer from an inferiority complex , '' said Kristen Sorensen , a professor at Bentley University in Massachusetts . `` In some sense , they have a superiority complex . ''
Experts say that miners have long had a strong sense of national identity . The miners ' rescue effort is described as a made - for - TV movie celebrating Chilean excellence and culture . The rescue has been many people 's response to Chile .