Modos de representación en los distritos: diputados al servicio de los partidos o de los electores? Los casos de Chile y Bolivia

Abstract

This paper provides empirical evidence on a topic that has been hardly analyzed in Latin America: representatives modes of representation. It specifically focuses on whether representatives promote party interests or constituency interests. Data have been obtained from surveys applied to representatives and political advisers from Chilean and Bolivian main political parties. Two are the key arguments. First, despite representatives' generalized preference for defending district interests' more than party interests, significant differences between Bolivian and Chilean deputies are found. Second, exploratory analysis shows the multicausal nature of representatives' interests, including variables related to representatives, their parties as well as their socio-economic and institutional environment.