Quality of democracy in Peru

Abstract

This article presents the results on the quality of democracy in Peru based on the theoretical and methodological parameters proposed by Leonardo Morlino on the subject.

The data was collected from primary sources in the year of 2019. The parameters to measure the quality of democracy are based on eight dimensions, each one being composed of sub-dimensions, which in summary concentrate 35 variables, 140 indicators, and more than 700 specific questions, establishing a qualitative and quantitative evaluation on a scale of 0 to 5, where 0 equals a situation of deficiency in terms of quality while five is the opposite.

It is verified that the quality of democracy in Peru continues to accumulate a deficit in terms of quality expressed in the deterioration and/or persistence of low quality of three dimensions: equality, responsibility and rule of law. It can be identified that the dynamics in which politics is circumscribed, calls for a necessary and urgent political reform through a Constituent Assembly. A reform that seeks to eliminate the negative effects of political representation, the deficit of legitimacy of institutions, the fight against corruption, the disaffection for politics and fundamentally to reduce asymmetries resulting from social inequality.

The article contributes to the analysis of democracy from a less fragmented perspective that incorporates dimensions generally not contemplated in debates on democracy such as the equality variable. The results of the research work become relevant inputs for the design and implementation of public policies with the aim of qualitatively affirming democracy in the country.