The Political Culture of Democracy in El Salvador, 2004 Perceptions and Realities of the Salvadoran Population

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The Political Culture of Democracy in El Salvador, 2004 Perceptions and Realities of the Salvadoran Population The Political Culture of Democracy in El Salvador, 2004 Perceptions and Realities of the Salvadoran Population Ricardo Córdova Macías, FUNDAUNGO José Miguel Cruz, IUDOP-UCA Mitchell A. Seligson Scientific Coordinator and Editor of the Series Vanderbilt University This publication was made possible through support provided by the USAID Missions in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Support was also provided by the Office of Regional Sustainable Development, Democracy and Human Rights Division, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Office of Democracy and Governance, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Task Order Contract No. AEP-I-12-99-00041-00. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Political Culture of Democracy in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, 2004: El Salvador i Table of Content Table of Content............................................................................................................................. i List of Tables and Graphs.............................................................................................................v List of Tables............................................................................................................................................v Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... xi Preface........................................................................................................................................ xvii Prologue ...................................................................................................................................... xix Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................xxiii Introduction................................................................................................................................xxv 1.0 Background on El Salvador ....................................................................................................1 1.1 Social and Economic Context.............................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Overview of Human Development in the Region .......................................................................................1 1.1.2 Human Development in El Salvador...........................................................................................................2 1.1.3 The Evolution of Poverty in El Salvador ....................................................................................................5 1.1.4 Economic Performance ...............................................................................................................................6 1.2 Political Context .................................................................................................................................8 1.2.1 The Peace Agreements................................................................................................................................8 1.1.2 Characteristics of the Postwar Political Election System............................................................................9 1.2.3 Problems of Governability in El Salvador ................................................................................................13 1.3 Study of the Political Culture in El Salvador....................................................................................15 2.0 Survey Methodology ..............................................................................................................19 2.1 Characteristics of the Final Sample ..................................................................................................19 2.2 Sample Characteristics Compared to the Population........................................................................22 3.0 Support for Democracy .........................................................................................................25 3.1 System Support.................................................................................................................................25 3.1.1 Levels of System Support (1995-2004).....................................................................................................26 3.1.2 System Support From a Comparative Perspective ....................................................................................27 3.1.3 Explaining the Levels of System Support in El Salvador .........................................................................28 3.1.4 System Support Model..............................................................................................................................29 3.1.5 Population Stratum and System Support...................................................................................................29 3.1.6 Urban-Rural Setting and System Support .................................................................................................29 3.1.7 Education and System Support .................................................................................................................30 3.1.8 Exposure to the News and System Support...............................................................................................31 3.1.9 Level of Political Knowledge and System Support...................................................................................32 3.1.10 Interpersonal Trust and System Support .................................................................................................32 3.1.11 Evaluation of the Work of the President and System Support ................................................................33 3.1.12 Ideology and System Support .................................................................................................................34 3.1.13 Political Preference and System Support ................................................................................................35 3.1.14 Consequences of the War and System Support.......................................................................................35 3.1.15 Satisfaction With Democratic Performance and System Support ...........................................................36 3.1.16 Economic Situation of the Country and System Support........................................................................37 3.1.17 Personal Economic Situation and System Support .................................................................................38 The Political Culture of Democracy in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, 2004: El Salvador i 3.1.18 Victimization Due to Crime and System Support ...................................................................................39 3.1.19 Lack of Personal Safety and System Support..........................................................................................40 3.1.20 Trust in the Judicial System and System Support ...................................................................................41 3.1.21 Behavior of Municipal Government Towards Citizens and System Support..........................................42 3.1.22 Collection of Extended System Support items........................................................................................43 3.2 Tolerance ..........................................................................................................................................44 3.2.1 Levels of Tolerance (1995-2004)..............................................................................................................45 3.2.2 Tolerance from a Comparative Perspective ..............................................................................................46 3.2.3 Explaining Tolerance Levels in El Salvador.............................................................................................47 3.2.4 Tolerance Model .......................................................................................................................................47 3.2.5 Population Stratum and Tolerance ............................................................................................................47 3.2.6 Urban - Rural Setting and Tolerance.........................................................................................................47 3.2.7 Education and Tolerance...........................................................................................................................48 3.2.8 Gender and Tolerance ...............................................................................................................................49 3.2.9 Home Equipment And Tolerance..............................................................................................................50 3.2.10 Exposure to the News and Tolerance......................................................................................................50 3.2.11 Level of Political Knowledge and Tolerance ..........................................................................................51 3.2.12 Evaluation of the President and Tolerance..............................................................................................52
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