Are Poor Neighborhoods Opposed to Democracy? The Case of Antananarivo, Madagascar

The people of Madagascar, and particularly those who live in its capital, Antananarivo, strongly support democracy and reject authoritarian rule. Support among the poor is no different from other social groups. However, living conditions in poor city neighborhoods have resulted in values and attitudes of mistrust of democracy that cannot be explained by social composition. This study is based on first-hand representative surveys administered both in the capital and across the country. An innovative sampling plan provides a better understanding of neighborhood-specific views on political socialization. We believe it is the first qualitative study of its kind. Our interpretations of these findings could provide a new perspective on the role of associative participation, which the literature usually considers as a factor in reinforcing democracy. The findings also provide new arguments in favor of urban social diversity policies.