The Political Culture of Democracy in Jamaica and in the Americas, 2018/19: Taking the Pulse of Democracy By Anthony A. Harriott, Ph.D. Centre for Leadership and Governance, Department of Government, UWI, Mona Balford A. Lewis Centre for Leadership and Governance, Department of Government, UWI, Mona Carole J. Wilson LAPOP Caribbean Coordinator and Report Editor Vanderbilt University Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Ph.D. LAPOP Director and Series Editor Vanderbilt University December 2020 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. The Political Culture of Democracy in Jamaica and in the Americas, 2018/19: Taking the Pulse of Democracy INVESTIGATIVE TEAM Investigation Professor Anthony A. Harriott, PhD. Centre for Leadership and Governance, Department of Government, UWI, Mona Balford A. Lewis, Centre for Leadership and Governance, Department of Government, UWI, Mona Fieldwork Coordination Balford A. Lewis Centre for Leadership and Governance, Department of Government, UWI, Mona Research and Editorial Support Kenisha Nelson, PhD; Nicole O. Cameron, PhD. University of Technology, Jamaica General Coordination and Report Editor Carole J. Wilson, PhD. Research Coordinator, LAPOP Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. USA LAPOP Director and Series Editor Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA Page | 4 Table of Contents Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables ..................................................................................................................................... ix Preface ....................................................................................................................................................................... xiii Introduction to the 2018/19 AmericasBarometer ..................................................................................... xv Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................. xvii Chapter 1. Support for Electoral Democracy in the Americas and in Jamaica ................................... 1 I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 II. Main Findings ............................................................................................................................. 4 III. Basic Tenets of Electoral Democracy ................................................................................. 4 Support for Democracy in the Abstract ...................................................................... 5 Rules of the Game: Tolerance of Military Coups ...................................................... 9 Tolerance of Executive Coups ..................................................................................... 12 IV. Evaluation of Democracy ...................................................................................................... 16 Satisfaction with Democracy ....................................................................................... 16 Democratic Status of Political System ....................................................................... 19 V. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 22 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 2. Democratic Legitimacy in the Americas and in Jamaica ................................................... 25 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 25 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 27 III. System Support ...................................................................................................................... 28 IV. Specific Institutions and Actors ......................................................................................... 32 V. Political Tolerance ................................................................................................................... 37 VI. Dimensions of Democratic Legitimacy ............................................................................. 41 VII. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 44 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 3. Social Media and Political Attitudes in the Latin America and Caribbean Region . 49 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 49 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 50 III. How Widely Used Are Social Media? ................................................................................. 51 IV. Who Uses Social Media? ....................................................................................................... 54 V. How Frequently Do They Use Social Media? ................................................................... 55 Page | v Political Culture of Democracy in Jamaica, 2018/19 VI. Political Engagement on Social Media ............................................................................... 61 VII. Social Media Use and Political Attitudes ........................................................................ 64 VIII. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 70 Appendix .......................................................................................................................................... 71 Beyond the Vote: Political and Civil Engagement as Modes of Citizen Activism in Jamaica .................................................................................................................................................. 75 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 75 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 76 III. Interest in Politics .................................................................................................................. 76 IV. Interest in Voting ................................................................................................................... 79 V. Political Party Identification ................................................................................................. 80 VI. Participation in Meetings of Political Organizations .................................................... 82 VII. Participation in Meetings of Local Government Entities ........................................... 83 VIII. Citizens’ Attitude to Selected Modes of Political Activism ....................................... 84 IX. Citizens’ Participation in Community Organizations ................................................... 86 X. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 90 Manifestations of Discriminatory Gender Norms in Jamaica’s Political Culture: Implications for a Gender Mainstreaming Agenda .............................................................. 91 I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 91 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................... 92 III. Participation in Women’s Groups and Organizations .................................................. 92 IV. Who are better political leaders, men or women? ........................................................ 94 V. Can a woman successfully raise children and pursue a career, at the same time? ........................................................................................................................................... 98 VI. Should a woman have the right to opt for an abortion if her health is in danger? .................................................................................................................................... 100 VII. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 103 Satisfaction with Public Services and Sense of Social Responsibility in Jamaica 105 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 105 II. Main Findings ........................................................................................................................