………… … ………… … …… ………… … ……………… …… …………… ………………… … ………… ……… …… The Political Culture of Democracy in Guyana, 2009: The Impact of Governance by: Margarita Corral Brian Faughnan Lawrence Lachmansingh Diana Orcés Elizabeth Zechmeister Dominique Zéphyr Series General Editor Mitchell A. Seligson ………… … ………… … …… ………… … ……………… …… …………… ………………… … …………………… … This study was done with support from the Program in Democracy and Governance of the United States Agency for International Development. The opinions expressed in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the point of view of the United States Agency for International Development. September, 2009 The Political Culture of Democracy in Guyana, 2009: The Impact of Governance Table of Contents Index of Figures .................................................................................................................................................. v Index of Tables .................................................................................................................................................. xi Preface .............................................................................................................................................................. xiii Prologue: Background to the Study ................................................................................................................ xv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................... xxii Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... xxv PART ONE: THEORY AND CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARISSONS ...................................................................... 1 Context of Democratic Development in Guyana, Method and Description of Data. ................................... 3 Political Context ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Economic Context ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Sample Design ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Population ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Sampling Method .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics of the 2008 Sample .............................................................. 9 Chapter I. Building Support for Stable Democracy ..................................................................................... 13 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Working hypothesis ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Support for the Idea of Democracy per se ............................................................................................................ 17 Support for Core Values on which Democracy Depends ..................................................................................... 18 Belief in the Political Legitimacy of Core Regime Institutions ............................................................................ 22 Social Capital ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 PART TWO: GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................................................... 27 Chapter II. Corruption and its Impact on Support for Stable Democracy ................................................ 29 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................................................................... 29 How Might Corruption Affect Support for Stable Democracy? ......................................................................... 30 The Measurement of Corruption ........................................................................................................................... 31 Corruption in Guyana ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Where are bribes more common? ....................................................................................................................... 32 How frequently are bribes demanded? ............................................................................................................... 33 Corruption Victimization in Guyana: 2006 and 2009 ........................................................................................ 34 Corruption in Guyana in comparative perspective ............................................................................................ 35 Corruption in Guyana by Regions ...................................................................................................................... 37 Who is More Likely to Become a Victim of Corruption? .................................................................................... 37 The Impact of Corruption Victimization on Support for Stable Democracy .................................................... 40 Perception of Corruption ........................................................................................................................................ 41 Perception of Corruption in Guyana: 2006 and 2009 ........................................................................................ 42 The Impact of the Perception of Corruption on Support for Stable Democracy .............................................. 44 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................ 46 APPENDIX CHAPTER II. ..................................................................................................................................... 48 Chapter III. Impact of Crime on Support for Stable Democracy ................................................................ 51 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................................................................... 51 How Might Crime Victimization Affect Support for Stable Democracy? .......................................................... 54 i …… The Political Culture of Democracy in Guyana, 2009: The Impact of Governance How do we measure crime? .................................................................................................................................... 55 Crime Victimization in Guyana ............................................................................................................................. 55 Crime Victimization in Guyana, 2006 and 2009 ................................................................................................ 55 Crime Victimization in Comparative Perspective .............................................................................................. 56 Crime Victimization by Region ........................................................................................................................... 58 Who are those more likely to become victims of crime? ..................................................................................... 59 The Impact of Crime Victimization on Support for a Stable Democracy .......................................................... 62 The Impact of Crime Victimization ..................................................................................................................... 62 Perception of Insecurity in Guyana ....................................................................................................................... 63 How do we measure perception of insecurity? ................................................................................................... 63 Perception of Insecurity in Guyana, 2006 and 2009 .......................................................................................... 63 Perception of Insecurity in Comparative Perspective ........................................................................................ 64 Perception of Insecurity by Region ..................................................................................................................... 65 Who are those who tend to perceive more insecurity? ....................................................................................... 66 The Impact of Perception of Insecurity on Support for a Stable Democracy ...................................................