Using surveys to understand how democracy is conceptualised in Spain

a theoretical and methodological approach

Abstract

The concept of democracy is central to our political systems, and citizens are constantly asked in surveys about their views on democracy and related issues. However, these questions usually omit the fact that the democracy is a complex concept, and only rarely are questions asked about how respondents understand democracy. Combining insights from political theory and survey methodology, this study analyses questions from the seven surveys that have been carried out in Spain to date that have directly addressed these conceptions. Some remarks are provided in the conclusion about the strengths and weaknesses of the questions asked so far, as well as some general recommendations for future research.