Disruptive Protests and Bureaucratic Structures in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The paper examines why citizens in some democracies engage in disruptive political actions to a larger extent than in other countries. Our hypothesis adds to previous research that focuses on individual factors, representational issues or discontent with public sector performance to explain the occurrence of disruptive protests. We hypothesize that a more politically controlled administration introduces turbulence in democracies, especially where civil society is strong. A public administration heavily controlled by politicians, and staffed to a large extent with politically appointed individuals, allows politicians to intervene in policy implementation and favor some groups over others in terms of access to public services and employment. Such a system may induce citizens to resort to disruptive actions to express demands and grievances, and secure access to public goods. We test this argument empirically on data from 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis.