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Chile is one of Latin Americas best performing countries. For several years, the country hasbeen described as a role model for the region, representing a free democracy and a stableeconomy. That´s why many were surprised when, during 18th of October 2019, a massivemobilization for social justice sparked off in Chile, the biggest popular manifestation since thereturn to democracy in the early 90’s.By analysing the social unrest in Chile through theories on contentious politics anddemocratization this study answers the question: Why did the social uprising in Chile emerge?This is done by describing the contentious episode through Contentious Politics maincomponents – contention, politics and collective action.The outcome of the analysis shows that there are two main factors that provoked the socialuprising: the first factor is social inequality, based on an unequal distribution of resources andan unequal access to society; the second factor is the unfulfilled transition to democracy,which also implies the neoliberal system that came with the Pinochet era. These factors haveseparately, but also intertwined, created a sense of impotence and frustration, that led to thecontentious episode.Through a combination of different methods of mobilization, the social uprising has movedChile one step further towards democratization by revitalizing discussions on democracy andquality of democracy, and to various economic and political reforms, not least the referendumon a new constitution.