Examining declining voter turnout in post-authoritarian Chile
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Laura Brunell, brunell@gonzaga.edu
Session Type
Traditional Paper Presentation
Research Project Abstract
Since transitioning to a democracy in 1990, Chile experienced a steady decline in voter turnout. My thesis argues that this decline in voter turnout is a legacy of dictatorship and unsatisfactory institutions post-dictatorship. To prove this, I conducted interviews with ten politically engaged individuals in Chile and am doing a comparative analysis of global voter turnout. This research is part of a senior thesis project for International Relations at Gonzaga. It will contribute to literature aiming to understand what causes voter turnout to decline in democratizing countries as well as foster a deeper understanding of Chile’s declining voter turnout in the hopes of finding ways to encourage citizen participation.
Session Number
RS12
Location
Weyerhaeuser 205
Abstract Number
RS12-c
Examining declining voter turnout in post-authoritarian Chile
Weyerhaeuser 205
Since transitioning to a democracy in 1990, Chile experienced a steady decline in voter turnout. My thesis argues that this decline in voter turnout is a legacy of dictatorship and unsatisfactory institutions post-dictatorship. To prove this, I conducted interviews with ten politically engaged individuals in Chile and am doing a comparative analysis of global voter turnout. This research is part of a senior thesis project for International Relations at Gonzaga. It will contribute to literature aiming to understand what causes voter turnout to decline in democratizing countries as well as foster a deeper understanding of Chile’s declining voter turnout in the hopes of finding ways to encourage citizen participation.
