The Latinobarómetro poll -- Democracy's low-level equilibrium in Latin Am

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Latin Americans believe their democracies benefit a privileged few, not the many—but they don't want a return to dictatorship

http://www.economist.com/world/la/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3084404

"CONTRARY to much punditry suggesting that the region risks a return to authoritarianism, roughly half of Latin Americans continue to support democracy, though few think it is working well. A much larger majority backs the market economy. Politicians are slightly less unpopular than of late. But worries about unemployment, poverty, corruption and crime test faith in democracy. Many Latin Americans would sacrifice some freedoms for order and greater prosperity. And their view of the United States is much less favourable than in the mid-1990s. These are some of the conclusions of the latest Latinobarómetro poll of political and social attitudes in 18 Latin American countries published exclusively by The Economist.

Latinobarómetro, a Chilean organisation, has carried out similar surveys each year since the mid-1990s, so the poll captures shifts in opinion in the region. This year's survey shows broad stability in attitudes, despite an improving economy (the region should see economic growth of 4.5% or so this year, the highest since 1997). That may be because of the lag before growth is reflected in higher incomes or more jobs. Or it may be because of deeper-rooted failures in democratic performance.

Support for democracy has edged up since last year (see charts 1 and 2, right and below). But in most countries it remains lower than in 1996, and in a dozen greatly so. The past year has seen sharp falls in support for democracy in Peru and three Central American countries (Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua). Only in Paraguay does support for authoritarianism rival that for democracy; it is relatively high, too, in Ecuador. Not coincidentally, respondents in those countries are, along with Peruvians, the least satisfied with the way their democracies work (chart 5).

On the brighter side, there has been a significant rise in backing for democracy since last year in Brazil, Chile and Venezuela, as well as in two Central American countries with newly elected presidents (El Salvador and Panama). Venezuelans are committed democrats despite—or perhaps because of—the political conflict their country suffers. The poll suggests that Venezuela is evenly divided between supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chávez.

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http://www.economist.com/world/la/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3084404

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