04 October 2018, page 1 of 7 52 Malingap St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City Website: www.sws.org.ph Tel: 924-4456, 924-4465 Fax: 920-2181 Third Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey: 84% are satisfied with the way democracy works; 59% always prefer democracy to any other kind of government Satisfaction with the way democracy works is highest among committed democrats Social Weather Stations The Third Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey, done on September 15-23, 2018, found 84% of adult Filipinos satisfied with the way democracy works in the country [Chart 1, Table 1]. This is 6 points above the 78% in March 2018, but below the record-high 86% in September 2016. Satisfaction with the way democracy works has ranged from 59% to 86% since June 2010 [Chart 2, Table 2]. The question on "satisfaction in the way democracy works" originated from the Eurobarometer surveys, and is also in standard use in Latin American and Asian barometer projects. The September 2018 survey also found 59% saying "democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government," compared to 20% saying "under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one" and 19% saying "for people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime." The 59% may be called committed democrats, the 20% conditional authoritarians, and the 19% indifferent. Peaks during 1992, 1998, 2010, 2013, and 2016 national elections Satisfaction with the way democracy works had peaks of 70% in September 1992, 70% in July 1998, 68% in June 2010, and the record-high 86% in September 2016, related to the successful presidential elections of 1992, 1998, 2010 and 2016, respectively. The previous record of 80% in June 2013 was achieved after the May 2013 senatorial elections. In contrast, satisfaction with the way democracy works was a disappointing 44% in June 2004, after the presidential election of that year.
04 October 2018, page 2 of 7 59% say democracy is always preferable to any other form of government The proportion of adult Filipinos saying "democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government" hardly moved from 60% in March 2018 to 59% in September 2018. Except for July 2014 when it was 47%, preference for democracy has been above 50% since February 2009, reaching a record-high 65% in June 2013 [Table 2]. Before the 20% recorded in the September 2018 survey, the proportion of those saying "under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one" had been at 19% from September 2016 to March 2018. It has been 20% or below for six consecutive quarters since December 2015. The proportion of those saying "for people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime" barely changed from 21% in March 2018 to 19% in September 2018. It has been 20% and above in 7 out of 9 surveys since September 2013. Satisfaction with how democracy works is highest among committed democrats Due to the 6-point increase in satisfaction with the way democracy works and steady figures regarding preference for democracy, the September 2018 survey found increases in satisfaction with democracy among committed democrats, conditional authoritarians, and those who were indifferent. Satisfaction was highest among committed democrats at 88%. This is a 6-point increase compared to the 83% in March 2018 [Chart 2]. It found that satisfaction increased by 5 points among conditional authoritarians, from 75% in March 2018 to 80% in September 2018. It also found that satisfaction was lowest among those who were indifferent at 74%. Still, this is a 6-point increase compared to the 68% in March 2018. Euro and LatAm comparisons In the March 2018 Eurobarometer survey (accessed here) of 28 European Union Member States, an average of 56% of Europeans are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country [Chart 3, Table 3]. It has been 50% and above since mid-2014, similar to 2006 to early 2012 when it ranged from 50% to 58%. It ranged from 40% to 49% in 1995-2005, and from 46% to 49% in late 2012 and 2013.
04 October 2018, page 3 of 7 In the August 2017 Latinobarómetro survey (accessed here) of 18 Latin American countries, an average 36% of Latin Americans are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country. It has been below 40% since 2011, after the record-high 44% in 2009 and 2010. It ranged from 25% to 41% from 1996 to 2008. Survey Background The September 2018 Social Weather Survey was conducted from September 15-23, 2018 using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 600 in Balance Luzon, and 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao). The area estimates were weighted by Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2018 to obtain the national estimates. The Social Weather Surveys on satisfaction with democracy, and preference for democracy, are not commissioned. They are done on SWS's own initiative and released as a public service. The survey question on satisfaction with democracy is as follows: "Sa pangkalahatan, kayo po ba ay... (LUBOS NA NASISIYAHAN; MEDYO NASISIYAHAN; HINDI NASISIYAHAN; LUBOS NA HINDI NASISIYAHAN) sa takbo ng demokrasya sa Pilipinas?" ["On the whole, are you... (Very satisfied; Fairly satisfied; Not very satisfied; Not at all satisfied) with the way democracy works in the Philippines?"]. On preference for democracy: "Alin sa mga sumusunod na pangungusap ang pinakamalapit sa inyong opinyon? (ANG DEMOKRASYA AY PALAGING MAS KANAIS-NAIS KAYSA SA IBANG KLASE NG PAMAHALAAN; SA MGA ILANG SITUWASYON, ANG PAMAHALAANG DIKTATURYA AY MAS KANAIS-NAIS KAYSA SA ISANG DEMOKRATIKO; PARA SA MGA TAONG KATULAD KO, WALANG KABULUHAN SA AKIN KUNG ANG ATING PAMAHALAAN AY DEMOKRATIKO O HINDI DEMOKRATIKO)." ["Which of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion? (Democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government; Under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a
04 October 2018, page 4 of 7 democratic one; For people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a nondemocratic regime)"]. SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations. This report was prepared by Antonia Beatrice D. Lee, with special tabulations by Joanne C. Evangelista. # Chart 1 SATISFACTION WITH THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS AND PREFERENCE FOR DEMOCRACY, NOV 1991 TO SEP 2018 C. AQUINO RAMOS ESTRADA ARROYO B. AQUINO DUTERTE 70 84% satisfied with how democracy works % of adults 50 30 10 1992 1998 2001 2004 2010 2016 2018 Q. On the whole, are you... (VERY SATISFIED, FAIRLY SATISFIED, NOT VERY SATISFIED, NOT AT ALL SATISFIED) with the way democracy works in the Philippines? Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion? (SHOWCARD) [Democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government; Under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one; For people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime]
% of adults 3 rd Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey 04 October 2018, page 5 of 7 Table 1 % SATISFIED WITH THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS C. AQUINO Nov 91 45% Feb 92 50 RAMOS Sep 92 70 Dec 92 55 Apr 93 58 Dec 93 54 Nov 94 46 Jun 95 53 Dec 95 48 Apr 96 51 Jun 96 51 Sep 96 51 Apr 97 63 Jun 97 63 Dec 97 64 ESTRADA Jul 98 70 ESTRADA (cont.) ARROYO (cont.) Sep 98 69% Sep 03 29% Nov 98 66 Nov 03 28 Jun 99 61 Mar 04 41 Oct 99 47 Jun 04 44 Dec 99 41 Dec 04 40 Mar 00 51 Aug 05 44 Jul 00 47 Dec 05 48 Sep 00 42 Dec 05 (AB) 37 ARROYO Sep 06 45 Sep 01 34 Feb 07 44 Nov 01 44 Mar 07 49 Mar 02 (EAB) 52 Apr 07 46 Mar 02 44 Sep 07 54 May 02 35 Jun 08 31 Sep 02 42 Feb 09 41 Nov 02 37 Jun 09 43 Mar 03 33 Mar 10 (AB) 47 Jun 03 45 Jun 10 68 B. AQUINO Sep 10 69% Mar 11 64 Mar 12 65 Mar 13 74 Jun 13 80 Sep 13 68 Jun 14 (AB) 59 Jun 15 77 Dec 15 76 Jun 16 79 DUTERTE Sep 16 86 Jun 17 80 Mar 18 78 Sep 18 84 Sources of Survey Data: Social Weather Stations Surveys (1986-2007); EAB = East Asia Barometer 2002 Survey; AB = Asia Barometer 2005, 2010, and 2014 Survey. Chart 1 SATISFACTION WITH THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS AND PREFERENCE FOR DEMOCRACY, MAR 2002 TO SEP 2018 ARROYO B. AQUINO DUTERTE 70 50 59% always prefer Democracy ( Committed democrats ) 30 10 20% sometimes prefer Authoritarianism ( Conditional authoritarians ) 1992 1998 2001 2004 2010 2016 2018 Not shown: For people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime ( Indifferent ) Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion? (SHOWCARD) [Democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government; Under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one; For people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime]
04 October 2018, page 6 of 7 Table 2 DEMOCRATIC VS AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT* It does I sometimes not I always prefer matter prefer Authori- for a person Democracy tarianism like me Mar 02 (EAB) 64% 18% 18% Jun 03 57 23 20 Nov 03 58 20 21 Mar 04 52 26 22 Jun 04 52 25 20 Dec 04 57 24 19 Aug 05 58 19 22 Dec 05 64 15 20 Dec 05 (AB) 50 18 24 Sep 06 49 23 28 Feb 07 52 19 28 Mar 07 58 15 25 Apr 07 53 17 27 Jun 07 53 19 27 Jun 08 49 23 28 Feb 09 51 21 28 It does I sometimes not I always prefer matter prefer Authori- for a person Democracy tarianism like me Jun 09 53% 18% 28% Sep 10 56 27 16 Mar 10 (AB) 54 22 22 Mar 11 57 24 19 Mar 12 58 26 16 Mar 13 59 21 20 Jun 13 65 19 16 Sep 13 59 21 21 Jul 14 (AB) 47 27 25 Jun 15 59 21 20 Dec 15 58 18 23 Jun 16 63 17 20 Sep 16 62 19 18 Jun 17 61 19 20 Mar 18 60 19 21 Sep 18 59 20 19 * Other terms used in discussing the results: committed democrats for those who Always prefer Democracy, conditional authoritarians for those who Sometimes prefer Authoritarianism, and indifferent for those who say It does not matter. Note: Don t Know and Refused responses are not shown. Q. Alin sa mga sumusunod na pangungusap ang pinakamalapit sa inyong opinyon? (SHOWCARD) [ANG DEMOKRASYA AY PALAGING MAS KANAIS-NAIS KAYSA SA IBANG KLASE NG PAMAHALAAN; SA MGA ILANG SITUWASYON, ANG PAMAHALAANG DIKTATURYA AY MAS KANAIS-NAIS KAYSA SA ISANG DEMOKRATIKO; PARA SA MGA TAONG KATULAD KO, WALANG KABULUHAN SA AKIN KUNG ANG ATING PAMAHALAAN AY DEMOKRATIKO O HINDI DEMOKRATIKO] Sources of Survey Data: Social Weather Stations Surveys (1986-2007); EAB = East Asia Barometer 2002 Survey; AB = Asia Barometer 2005, 2010, and 2014 Survey. Chart 2 SATISFACTION WITH THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS BY PREFERENCE FOR DEMOCRACY, MAR 2018 AND SEP 2018 100 80 60 Always prefer Democracy 17 March 2018 September 2018 Sometimes Does not Sometimes prefer matter for Always prefer Authoritarianism like me Democracy a person prefer Authoritarianism 25 32 12 19 Does not matter for a person like me 26 Dissatisfied with the way democracy works 40 20 83 75 68 88 80 74 Satisfied with the way democracy works 0 NET* +65 +50 +36 +77 +61 +48 * % Satisfied minus % Dissatisfied
04 October 2018, page 7 of 7 Chart 3 % SATISFIED WITH THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS: PHILIPPINES, EU 28, AND LATIN AMERICA 18, NOV 1991 TO SEP 2018 90 84% PH % of adults 70 50 30 57% Ave. EU 28 34% Ave. LatAm 18 10 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2018 Q. On the whole, are you... (VERY SATISFIED, FAIRLY SATISFIED, NOT VERY SATISFIED, NOT AT ALL SATISFIED) with the way democracy works in the Philippines? Sources: Social Weather Stations, Eurobarometer, and Latinobarómetro. Table 3 % SATISFIED WITH THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS: PHILIPPINES, EU 28, AND LATIN AMERICA 18 Nov 91 45% Feb 92 50 Apr 92 Oct 92 70 Dec 92 55 Apr 93 Apr 93 58 Nov 93 Dec 93 54 May 94 Nov 94 46 Dec 94 May 95 48% Jun 95 53 Dec 95 48 Apr 96 51 Jun 96 51 Sep 96 27 51 Apr 97 63 Jun 97 63 Nov 97 48% Dec 97 41% 64% May 98 47 Jul 98 70 Sep 98 69 Nov 98 37 66 Jun 99 61 Oct 99 43 47 Dec 99 41 Mar 00 51 Jul 00 47 Sep 00 37 42 Dec 00 40 Sep 01 34 Nov 01 44 25 44 Mar 02 (EAB) 53 Mar 02 44 May 02 35 Sep 02 42 Nov 02 48 33 37 Mar 03 46% 33% Jun 03 45 Oct 03 42 29% Jun 04 43 44 Dec 04 48 29 40 Mar 05 49 Aug 05 44 Dec 05 (AB) 38 Dec 05 31 48 Mar 06 50 Sep 06 38 45 Feb 07 44 Mar 07 49 Apr 07 46 Jun 07 58 37 54 Jun 08 37 31 Feb 09 41 Jun 09 53 44 43 Jun 10 68 Sep 10 54 44 69 Mar 11 52% 64% Aug 11 39% Mar 12 51 65 Nov 12 49 Mar 13 39 74 Jun 13 48 80 Sep 13 46 68 Jun 14 50 Nov 14 50 Jun 15 53 39 77 Dec 15 52 76 Jun 16 34 79 Sep 16 86 Mar 17 54 May 17 55 Jun 17 80 Aug 17 36 Nov 17 57 Mar 18 56 78 Sep 18 84