Abstract

This study aimed to contribute to filling the gap in our understanding of socio-cultural issues in Latin America. Since redemocratization, a gradual increase in the importance of socio-cultural issues has been observed, affecting representation and accountability. For example, most of the region saw an increase in the number of evangelicals, while the number of Catholics steadily declined. Conversely, mobilization in favor of abortion and same-sex marriage has flourished. However, socio-cultural topics have yet to be analyzed in a more systematic way that acknowledges that these concerns are increasingly relevant in shaping voters’ preferences across the region, affecting representation and accountability. The literature either maintains a focus on economic issues or limits its analyses to a single socio-cultural theme. This dissertation sets out to examine the evolution of socio-cultural ideological dimensions to assess the causes of this change, while two case studies show the consequences of this dimension through a quantitative and causal inference approach. In Chapter 2, I use a novel IRT strategy to assess latent ideological dimensions, while in Chapters 3 and 4, I use instrumental variable and difference-in-differences designs to gauge causal effects. The study identified three main findings. First, the socio-cultural issues are relevant in Latin America, and their relevance has increased over time. Second, the concerns with minorities in general are consequential in shaping political behavior in the region. Third, immigration affects voting behavior directly, even if there is no political elite promoting an anti-immigrant campaign. The results of this study support the view that Latin American politics is more complex than often assumed. Furthermore, the findings can contribute to a better understanding of recent events in the region, such as the rise of right-wing populism. In addition, these findings provide evidence about the relevance of policies for minorities and immigrants since the results indicate that both generate a negative reaction. This study, therefore, will be of value for scholars wishing to understand key themes shaping voters' behavior and, consequently, changes in representation and accountability in Latin America.

Committee Chair

Ted Enamorado

Committee Members

Jacob Montgomery; Lucia Motolinia; Patrick Cunha Silva; Sunita Parikh

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Author's Department

Political Science

Author's School

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

4-24-2026

Language

English (en)

Author's ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6162-4656

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