Publications
Publications
- 2023
The Nature, Sources, and Consequences of Citizens’ Anti-establishment Sentiments
By: Loreto Cox and Natalia Garbiras-Diaz
Abstract
While recent studies examine anti-establishment parties and candidates, fewer focus
on citizens’ anti-establishment sentiments, which we define as an intense and angry
animosity toward political elites and distrust of political parties. What drives these
sentiments? What are their causal effects on political attitudes and voting behavior?
We answer these questions using survey data from Colombia and Peru around the 2022
elections, combining experimental and observational approaches. We find that antiestablishment
sentiments are widespread, span the ideological spectrum, and stem
mainly from perceptions of corruption and broken promises by leaders. They do not
make citizens less democratic, but they do reduce their trust in institutions. We find
electoral advantages for candidates who employ anti-establishment appeals, which then
weaken citizens’ punishment of anti-democratic candidates. In Colombia, where voting
is voluntary, we also find mobilizing effects of anti-establishment sentiments. Overall,
we advance the understanding of citizens’ disillusionment with politicians, a pervasive
global phenomenon.
Keywords
Political Parties; Political Instability; Democracy; Elections; Electoral Behavior; Election Outcomes; Ideology; Political Elections; Policy; Governance; Government and Politics; Social Issues; Society; Perception; Crime and Corruption; Latin America; South America; Colombia; Peru
Citation
Cox, Loreto, and Natalia Garbiras-Diaz. "The Nature, Sources, and Consequences of Citizens’ Anti-establishment Sentiments." Working Paper, July 2023.