Publication: «I can’t get no satisfaction». Servicios públicos, democracia y clases medias en América Latina
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2017
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Universidad de Salamanca. Instituto Interuniversitario de Estudios de Iberoamérica y Portugal
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Abstract
En la última década, el auge de las nuevas clases medias latinoamericanas ha sido ampliamente analizado, entre otras razones debido al papel que muchos autores creen que éstas desempeñan en la estabilidad democrática. Sin embargo, la vulnerabilidad de la clase media emergente y el aumento de las protestas y movilizaciones sociales han frenado el entusiasmo y fortalecido el deseo de consolidar los logros alcanzados. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo identificar si el descontento con el desempeño del Estado fortalece o debilita la satisfacción con la democracia. Implementando modelos multinivel y regresión con datos de encuestas (Latinobarómetro 2011) para 18 países de la región, observamos que la satisfacción democrática está influenciada principalmente por la percepción de equidad social y confianza en el gobierno, pero no por la autopercepción de clase social o la insatisfacción con los servicios públicos. Llegamos a la conclusión de que las protestas que expresan insatisfacción con los servicios públicos pueden estar expresando la fortaleza del régimen y la exigencia de fortalecerlo aún más, no al contrario.
The rise of new middle classes over the past decade in Latin America has been widely acclaimed, among other reasons because of the role that many believe middle classes play in democratic stability. However, the vulnerability of the emerging middle class and the increase of social protest and mobilizations have dampened the enthusiasm and strengthened the desire to consolidate the gains achieved. The present study aims to identify whether discontent with the state’s performance strengthens or weakens satisfaction with democracy. By implementing multilevel and regression models with survey data (Latinobarómetro 2011) for 18 countries in the region, we observe that democratic satisfaction is mainly influenced by the perception of social fairness and trust in the government, but not by self-perception of social class or dissatisfaction with public services. We conclude that protests expressing dissatisfaction with public services may be expressing the strength of the regime and a demand to strengthen it further, not the opposite.
The rise of new middle classes over the past decade in Latin America has been widely acclaimed, among other reasons because of the role that many believe middle classes play in democratic stability. However, the vulnerability of the emerging middle class and the increase of social protest and mobilizations have dampened the enthusiasm and strengthened the desire to consolidate the gains achieved. The present study aims to identify whether discontent with the state’s performance strengthens or weakens satisfaction with democracy. By implementing multilevel and regression models with survey data (Latinobarómetro 2011) for 18 countries in the region, we observe that democratic satisfaction is mainly influenced by the perception of social fairness and trust in the government, but not by self-perception of social class or dissatisfaction with public services. We conclude that protests expressing dissatisfaction with public services may be expressing the strength of the regime and a demand to strengthen it further, not the opposite.