Elites parlamentarias en America Latina. Continuidad y cambio en la decada de 1990

In: Revista española de ciencia política, Heft 5, S. 173-194

Abstract

Two research projects by the Equipo de Elites Parlamentarias del Instituto de Estudios de Iberoamerica y Portugal de la Universidad de Salamanca (Research Group of the Institute of Iberoamerican and Portuguese Studies of the U of Salamanca) are reported: (1) Reforma politica y valores en los parlamentarios de cuatro casos nacionales de America Latina (Political Reform and Values in the Parliaments of Four Latin American Countries), carried out in 1994 & (2) Elites parlamentarias en America Latina (Parliamentary Elites in Latin America), launched in 1995 & finalized in 1998. The focus of attention is devoted here to the latter, which is discussed in more detail, including the number of informants during the first & second phase of the investigation & data collection (ie, questionnaire) & analysis (ie, cross-country comparison) methodology applied in obtaining information on parliamentarians' perception, assessment, & attitude to democratic practices in 15 Latin American countries. Results are summarized for the following topics: (1) the type of democratic regime, parliamentary election system, & government structure, (2) the role of political parties, (3) the trust in each of the three branches of government & armed forces, (4) the state's role in political, social, & economic spheres, (5) the principal problems faced by each of the countries, (6) regional integration of Latin American countries & foreign policy, (7) political careers & reasons for being elected to the parliament, & (8) ideological affiliation & polarization. Plans of future studies by this research group are shared. Tables, References. Z. Dubiel