Satisfaction with democracy among Brazilians in the recent scenario (2002-2014)

Abstract

Based on the Brazilian Electoral Study Data Analysis (ESEB) from 2002 to 2014 and from the answers to the question "On the whole, are you very satisfied, rather satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy is developing in Brazil?" and its attitudinal and socioeconomic correlates, the article describes the satisfaction with democracy as a measure of responsiveness of the regime to the citizens’ view, and, as such, as a multifaceted phenomenon involving not only the evaluation of results and substantial content of the democratic politics, as well as institutional and regulatory aspects of representative democracy. The results suggest that although multifaceted, the phenomenon of satisfaction with democracy in the country has fairly consistent correlates over time in terms of evaluating authorities and democratic norms. They also suggest that, although the economic dimension is important, it is not always determinant to the satisfaction with democracy in the country.