FIU presents the 2010 Iberobarometer


Economic crisis causing pessimism, report says

The lingering economic crisis is taking its toll on the confidence of people in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, according to the Iberobarometer, a benchmarking report that examines the institutionalization of democratic processes in the regions.

The School of International and Public Affairs at FIU will present the findings of the 2010 report at 2 p.m., June 8 in the MARC International Pavilion on FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

This year’s study reveals a clear lack of confidence in democratic institutions, disdain for political parties, and an overwhelming emphasis on the powers of the executive office. Only 30 percent of those surveyed said their respective countries were moving in a favorable direction.

For 18 consecutive years, the Iberoamerican Consortium of Business Marketing Research and Consulting (CIMA) has published the Iberoamerican Governability Barometer. The June 8 presentation will feature Carlos Lemoine, the project coordinator, and Eduardo A. Gamarra, project researcher and professor of political science in FIU’s Department of Politics and International Relations.

“After so many years of conducting the study, we now have an impressive database of information,” Gamarra said. “We are able to observe how Latin America and the countries of the Iberian Peninsula have evolved over time in key areas such as democratic consolidation, leadership and governance, development and consolidation of institutions, and social confidence.”

The aim of the Iberobarometer is to foster dialogue among Iberoamerican countries on issues relating to governance, social perceptions, leadership, institutional legitimacy and performance of key international players in each country. For the 2010 study, nearly 12,000 people were surveyed from 18 countries in the Americas, as well as Spain, Portugal and the Hispanic population in the United States. The findings are an invaluable tool not only for social scientists, but also for policymakers, analysts, the media, the business sector and non-governmental organizations.

The findings of the 2010 study are especially useful, given the current international financial crisis and the inherent economic instability this represents for the countries in question. The study indicates a growing societal pessimism in the face of increasing unemployment and inflation. Moreover, the report reveals a trend toward a general lack of confidence in institutions, especially political parties and legislative bodies.

For more information about the presentation, please contact the School of International and Public Affairs at 305-348-7266. For information about CIMA and the Iberobarometer, click here.

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