Lecture
Liberal Bureaucrats and Democratic Backsliding
- Date
- Wednesday 10 June 2026
- Time
- Address
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 1.48
Professor Scott Morgenstern will present his survey-based research on bureaucratic attitudes towards liberalism and democracy in Latin America.
Moderation: Dr. Diego Salazar Morales & Dr. Soledad Valdivia
Organisation: Latin American Studies and the Institute of Public Administration, Leiden University
Abstract
Given their role in implementing policy and executive orders, bureaucrats are uniquely positioned to respond to executive overreach or democratic backsliding. Their attitudes towards liberalism, however, has avoided significant scrutiny. In response, we employ an original survey of over 12,000 Latin American bureaucrats and show that many espouse a commitment to democracy. Further, those attitudes suggest a) an understanding of democracy as procedural b) a view that democracy helps with outcomes such as improving the economy or fighting crime and c) that the bureaucrats' commitments to liberal democracy is much deeper than that of voters. At the same time, we also show that liberal democratic commitments are influenced by political alignments.
Biography
Scott Morgenstern is Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh and past Director of Pitt's Center for Latin American Studies. His research focuses on political parties and legislatures, with a specialization in Latin America. His publications include: Are Politics Local? The Two Dimensions of Party Nationalization around the World (Cambridge, 2017), Patterns of Legislative Politics (Cambridge 2003) Legislative Politics in Latin America, (coeditor; Cambridge, 2002), Pathways to Power: Political Recruitment and Candidate Selection in Latin America. (co-editor; Penn State, 2008) and Cuba Reforming Communism Cuba in Comparative Perspective (coeditor; Pittsburgh University Press, 2018). His articles have appeared in LARR, Journal of Politics, Party Politics, Review of International Political Economy, Comparative Politics, and elsewhere.
Registration
Registration is not mandatory but highly appreciated. Please register here.