The Political Culture of Democracy in Panama, 2004 Public Perceptions About the Political System Orlando J. Pérez, Central Michigan University Marco A. Gandásegui, hijo, CELA 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. Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... i List of Tables and Figures........................................................................................................... iii List of Tables...........................................................................................................................................iii List of Figures..........................................................................................................................................iii Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ ix Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... xi Preface........................................................................................................................................ xvii Prologue ...................................................................................................................................... xix Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................xxiii 1.0 Panama’s Political Culture .....................................................................................................1 1.1 The Economic Situation ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Economy and Public Opinion............................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Democracy and Elections ................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Political Culture.................................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Research on Political Culture ............................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Empirical Studies.............................................................................................................................. 11 1.7 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 12 1.8 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.0 Methodology and Distribution of the Survey ......................................................................17 2.1 Distribution of the Study .................................................................................................................. 18 2.2 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 22 3.0 Support to a Stable Democracy ............................................................................................23 3.1 The Existence of a Political Community in Panama ........................................................................ 23 3.2 Institutional System Support ............................................................................................................ 25 3.3 Predictors of Institutional System Support....................................................................................... 28 3.4 Political Tolerance............................................................................................................................ 38 3.5 Support to a Stable Democracy ........................................................................................................ 44 3.6 Empirical Relationship Between Tolerance and Support for the System......................................... 45 3.7 Other Measures of Support for Democracy...................................................................................... 50 3.8 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 54 4.0 Local Government and Democracy......................................................................................55 4.1 Citizen Opinions Concerning Municipal Issues ............................................................................... 57 4.2 Satisfaction with Municipal Administrations ................................................................................... 61 4.3 Citizen Participation in Municipal Affairs ....................................................................................... 64 4.4 Presentation of Petitions to Municipal Government......................................................................... 67 4.4.1 People’s Ability to Solve Local Problems.................................................................................................70 4.5 National Government Compared to Local Government................................................................... 73 4.6 Confidence in Municipal Government ............................................................................................. 74 4.7 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 76 5.0 The Rule of Law.....................................................................................................................79 5.1 Rule of Law: A Methodological Proposal for Its Measurement....................................................... 80 The Political Culture of Democracy in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, 2004: Panama i 5.2 Levels of Trust in the Protection of Rights....................................................................................... 80 5.3. Impact of Confidence in Institutions for the Protection of Rights on Support for the Political System .................................................................................................................................................. 87 5.4 Satisfaction With the Services Offered by Judicial Institutions ....................................................... 87 5.5 About Victimization ......................................................................................................................... 91 5.6 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 96 6.0 Corruption and Democracy ..................................................................................................97 6.1 Extent of the Problem of Corruption in Panama...............................................................................97 6.2 Level of Victimization Due to Corruption........................................................................................ 99 6.3 Predictors of Those Who are Victims of Corruption...................................................................... 102 6.4 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 105 7.0 Participation and Social Capital.........................................................................................107 7.1 Levels of Participation.................................................................................................................... 107 7.2 Factors Which Explain the Levels of Participation ........................................................................ 109 7.3 Predictors Participation................................................................................................................... 109 7.4 Effects of Participation on Community Action .............................................................................. 111 7.5 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 115 8.0 Electoral Conduct in Panama.............................................................................................117 8.1 Relation Between Elections and Democracy.................................................................................. 122 8.2 Predictors of Intention