Indigenous Quotas and Symbolic Representation in Latin America

To redress imbalances in descriptive representation, many Latin American countries have applied gender quotas to elected offices, and some have developed quotas to increase the representation of Indigenous peoples. This study explores whether Indigenous quotas have produced positive effects on the symbolic representation among the target groups. Using AmericasBarometer data from Bolivia and Mexico, difference-in-difference analyses test whether Indigenous respondents’ levels of system support, external political efficacy, trust in congress and trust in elections were boosted by implementation of Indigenous quotas. In each country, analyses compare Indigenous and non-Indigenous respondents from before and after quota adoption. Results reveal positive effects on measures of symbolic representation for Indigenous respondents in both Bolivia and Mexico.