ABSTRACT
Understanding and interpreting public opinion in Latin America is central to our ability to understand the arena in which democratic politics is played out. We, of course, recognize that institutions matter a great deal in this process, but institutions operate in the context of citizen values, behaviors and choices. Indeed, many institutional choices grow directly from the political cultures in which they operate, often (but not always) resulting in a degree of congruence between societal norms and institutional structure. The task of researchers studying Latin American public opinion is large and complex; its importance for the study of politics in the region is matched by its potential to illuminate new connections, inspire and accommodate methodological innovations, and spur advances in theoretical perspectives on the origin, nature, and consequences of public opinion.
