The Political Culture of Democracy in Nicaragua, 2004 Luis Serra Vázquez, UCA Pedro López Ruíz, 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. Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... i List of Tables and Graphics..........................................................................................................v List of Tables............................................................................................................................................ v List of Graphics ........................................................................................................................................ v Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... ix Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... xi Preface...........................................................................................................................................xv Prologue ..................................................................................................................................... xvii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... xxi 1.0 National Context and Political Culture .................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Socioeconomic situation..................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 The Political Setting ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Studies on Political Culture in Nicaragua........................................................................................... 8 1.5 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 12 2.0 Methodology Used and Characteristics of the Sample.......................................................15 2.1 Survey and Sample Design............................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1 Data Collection and Processing.................................................................................................................18 2.1.2 Work Team ...............................................................................................................................................19 2.2 Socio-Demographic Characterization of the Sample ....................................................................... 19 2.3 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 26 3.0 Support to the Political System.............................................................................................27 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Support to the Political System ........................................................................................................ 27 3.2.1 Levels of Support for the Political System................................................................................................31 3.2.2 Confidence in the Institutions ...................................................................................................................31 3.2.3 Respect for Public Institutions ..................................................................................................................32 3.2.4 Scale of Support for the Political System..................................................................................................34 3.2.5 Support for the Nicaraguan System by Sex and Region ...........................................................................36 3.2.6 Predictors of Support for the System ........................................................................................................37 3.2.7 Gender, Education Level and Support for the system...............................................................................37 3.2.8 Perception of Corruption and Support for the System ..............................................................................38 3.2.9 Other Predictors of Support for the Political System ................................................................................40 3.3 Political Tolerance............................................................................................................................ 43 3.3.1 Political Tolerance by Region and Sex .....................................................................................................45 3.3.2 Predictors of Political Tolerance...............................................................................................................46 3.4 Support for a Stable Democracy....................................................................................................... 51 3.4.1 Predictors of Support for Stable Democracy.............................................................................................53 3.5 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 56 4.0 Corruption and Legitimacy ..................................................................................................57 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 57 4.2 Magnitude of Corruption.................................................................................................................. 58 4.2.1 Judging Corrupt Situations........................................................................................................................61 4.2.2 Judging Public Institutions........................................................................................................................63 The Political Culture of Democracy in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia, 2004: Nicaragua i 4.3 Experiences With Corruption ........................................................................................................... 64 4.3.1 Victims of Corruption (Bribes) .................................................................................................................65 4.4 Predictors of Victimization............................................................................................................... 66 4.4.1 Assessment of the Bolaños Government’s Anti-Corruption Policy..........................................................68 4.5 Corruption and Support for the System............................................................................................ 68 4.6 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 70 5.0 Rule of Law.............................................................................................................................71 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 71 5.2 Confidence in the Justice System ..................................................................................................... 72 5.2.1 Satisfaction With Services ........................................................................................................................74 5.3 Crime and Citizens’ Insecurity......................................................................................................... 75 5.3.1 Types of Crimes Committed .....................................................................................................................77 5.3.2 Reporting of Crimes..................................................................................................................................77 5.3.3 Crime and Urbanization ............................................................................................................................79 5.3.4 Assessment of the Severity of Crime ........................................................................................................81