The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala and in the Americas, 2016/17: A Comparative Study of Democracy and Governance By: Dinorah Azpuru, Ph.D. Wichita State University Mariana Rodríguez, Ph.D. LAPOP Program Coordinator and Report Editor Vanderbilt University Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Ph.D. LAPOP Director and Series Editor Vanderbilt University February 2018 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 ............................................................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................................ xi Preface .......................................................................................................................................................................... xiii Prologue: Background to the Study .................................................................................................................... xv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................. xix Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. xxv Chapter 1. Support for Electoral Democracy in the Americas .................................................................. 1 I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 II. Main Findings ............................................................................................................................... 2 III. The Basic Tenets of Electoral Democracy ........................................................................... 2 Support for Democracy in the Abstract ...................................................................... 4 Rules of the Game: Support for Coups under High Crime and Corruption ........................................................................................................................... 7 Support for Executive Coups ....................................................................................... 10 IV. Support for Democratic Institutions: Elections and Parties ........................................ 13 Trust in Elections ............................................................................................................ 14 Participation in Elections .............................................................................................. 17 Trust in Political Parties ................................................................................................ 19 Partisanship...................................................................................................................... 23 V. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 2. The Supply of Basic Liberties in the Americas ....................................................................... 27 I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 27 II. Main Findings ............................................................................................................................. 28 III. The Media .................................................................................................................................. 28 Supply of Freedom of the Press .................................................................................. 29 Trust in the Media .......................................................................................................... 32 IV. Freedom to Express Opinions .............................................................................................. 34 Perceptions of Freedom to Express Opinions in General ................................... 35 Perceptions of Freedom to Express Political Opinions ........................................ 36 V. Human Rights ............................................................................................................................. 39 VI. Deficit of Basic Liberties Index ............................................................................................. 41 VII. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 44 Page | iii Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala, 2016/17 Chapter 3. Vulnerability, Exclusion, and Migration in Guatemala ....................................................... 47 I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 47 II. Main Findings ............................................................................................................................. 47 III. Emigration in Guatemala ....................................................................................................... 48 Data on Migration ........................................................................................................... 48 Intention to Migrate from Guatemala in 2017 ......................................................... 52 IV. Vulnerability, Exclusion, and Emigration in Guatemala ................................................ 58 What is Vulnerability? ................................................................................................... 58 Economic Vulnerability and Migration ..................................................................... 60 Physical Vulnerability and Migration ........................................................................ 62 Exclusion and Emigration ............................................................................................. 71 V. The Impact of Migration .......................................................................................................... 74 VI. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 78 Chapter 4. Conventional and Non-Conventional Participation in Guatemala .................................. 81 I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 81 II. Main Findings ............................................................................................................................. 81 III. Conventional Political Participation ................................................................................... 82 What is Conventional Political Participation? ......................................................... 82 Conventional Political Participation in Guatemala ................................................ 82 IV. Non-Conventional Political Participation ......................................................................... 93 What is Non-Conventional Political Participation? ............................................... 93 Non-Conventional Political Participation in Guatemala ...................................... 93 V. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 101 Chapter 5. Perceptions of Institutions and Relevant Legislation in 2017 ........................................ 103 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 103 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 103 III. The Legitimacy and Importance of Political Institutions ............................................ 104 IV. Trust in the Political Institutions of Guatemala ............................................................. 105 Key Political Institutions.............................................................................................. 105 Justice System Institutions .......................................................................................... 114 Trust in Other Institutions .......................................................................................... 129 V. Satisfaction with public services ......................................................................................... 132 VI. Opinions Regarding Relevant Legislation in 2017 .......................................................... 133 VII. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 137 Chapter 6. Democratic Orientations in the Americas ............................................................................. 139 I. Introduction ..............................................................................................................................