Democracies meet electoral standards but often fail to represent marginalized groups. This study investigates how ethnoracial exclusion affects citizens' tolerance for political dissent in Latin America.

Research Design

Researchers analyzed cross-national public opinion data alongside contextual measures of economic and political marginalization affecting ethnoracial groups across the region.

The paper further examines time-series dynamics in Bolivia to explore mechanisms connecting structural exclusion with intolerance using a mixed-methods approach.

Ethnoracial Inequality

Findings show that pronounced ethnoracial hierarchies depress tolerance for dissent, revealing an unexplained societal difference despite formal democratic institutions.

Broader Significance

This research emphasizes the crucial role of macro-structural context in shaping citizens' commitments to fundamental democratic rights.