The Normative and Material Foundations of Judicial Confidence in Bolivia. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaire, José
• Is Part Of: Latin American politics and society. Volume 61:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: judicial confidence, -- judicial independence, -- institutional support, -- marginalization; Latin America -- Periodicals; Amérique latine -- Périodiques; Sociale ontwikkeling; Politieke ontwikkeling; 980
• DOI: 10.1017/lap.2019.22
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1531-426X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: What allows unpopular judiciaries to gain the trust of the public? Some suggest that judicial confidence depends on procedural integrity. Others emphasize the importance of ideological congruence between the court and the public. This article examines the explanatory power of these two leading hypotheses while also paying closer attention to the moderating effects of political and economic inclusion. It finds that confidence in the judiciary is driven by normative considerations when inclusion is high, but by ideological proximity when inclusion is low. The findings highlight that institutional support does not emerge from a single causal path. Instead, inequalities in the economic and political structure make people trust institutions for different—and sometimes contrasting—reasons.