The Political Culture of Democracy in Ecuador and in the Americas, 2018/19: Taking the Pulse of Democracy
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The Political Culture of Democracy in Ecuador and in the Americas, 2018/19: Taking the Pulse of Democracy By Paolo Moncagatta Universidad San Francisco de Quito Arturo Moscoso Moreno Universidad de Las Américas Simón Pachano Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales J. Daniel Montalvo Director of Survey Research Operations and Report Editor Vanderbilt University Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Ph.D. LAPOP Director and Series Editor Vanderbilt University May 2020 This study is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this study are the sole responsibility of the authors and LAPOP and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Table of Contents Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables .................................................................................................................................... vii Preface .......................................................................................................................................................................... xi Introduction to the 2018/19 AmericasBarometer ................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................ xv Support for Electoral Democracy in the Americas and in Ecuador .................................. 1 I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 II. Main Findings ............................................................................................................................. 4 III. Basic Tenets of Electoral Democracy ................................................................................. 5 Support for Democracy in the Abstract ...................................................................... 5 Rules of the Game: Tolerance of Military Coups ...................................................... 9 Tolerance of Executive Coups ..................................................................................... 12 IV. Evaluation of Democracy ...................................................................................................... 15 Satisfaction with Democracy ....................................................................................... 15 V. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 18 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Democratic Legitimacy in the Americas and in Ecuador ................................................... 21 I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 21 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 23 III. System Support ...................................................................................................................... 24 IV. Specific Institutions and Actors ......................................................................................... 28 V. Political Tolerance .................................................................................................................. 33 VI. Dimensions of Democratic Legitimacy ............................................................................ 36 VII. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 39 Appendix .......................................................................................................................................... 41 Social Media and Political Attitudes in the Latin America and Caribbean Region . 45 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 45 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 46 III. How Widely Used Are Social Media? ................................................................................ 47 IV. Who Uses Social Media? ....................................................................................................... 51 V. How Frequently Do They Use Social Media? .................................................................... 51 VI. Political Engagement on Social Media ............................................................................. 57 Page | iii Political Culture of Democracy in Ecuador, 2018/19 VII. Social Media Use and Political Attitudes ........................................................................ 60 VIII. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 67 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 68 The Politicization of Citizens and Ideological Polarization in Ecuador ....................... 73 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 73 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 74 III. The Concept of Ideology: Definitions, Debates and Theoretical Discussions ....... 75 IV. Ideological Self-Identification ............................................................................................ 79 V. Relationship between Ideological Self-Identification and Positions on Public Policies ....................................................................................................................................... 82 VI. Possible Determinants of Ideological Self-Identification ............................................ 84 VII. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 86 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 87 Clash of Ideas: 21st Century Progressivism versus Conservatism in Ecuador ......... 89 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 89 II. Key Findings .............................................................................................................................. 91 III. Measuring Progressivism and Conservatism in Ecuador with Data from the AmericasBarometer ................................................................................................................ 92 Approval of Gay Rights .................................................................................................. 93 Support for Government Provision of Social Services to Foreigners ............... 96 Support for the Idea that Men are Better Political Leaders than Women ...... 98 Progressive and Conservative Values Over Time .................................................. 99 What Factors Predict Progressivism and Conservatism in Ecuador in 2019?100 Generation as a Determining Factor of Progressive and Conservative Values in Ecuador ............................................................................................................................ 102 Putting it all Together: A Comparative Perspective of the Ideological Positioning and Social Values of Ecuadorians in 2019 ............................................................... 104 IV. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 106 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 109 Attitudes Towards Corruption in Ecuador ........................................................................... 113 I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 113 II. Key Findings ............................................................................................................................ 114 III. Corruption .............................................................................................................................. 115 IV. Perceptions of Corruption .................................................................................................. 116 V. Victimization by Corruption ................................................................................................ 119 Page | iv Table of Contents VI. Tolerance towards Corruption .......................................................................................... 123 Possible Determinants of Tolerance for Corruption ........................................... 125 VII. Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................