Focus or style: What interests do the councilors of the city of Barranquilla defend and how do they behave?

Abstract

This article approached the analysis of the role of the political representation of the councilors of the city of Barranquilla, in Colombia, from the double dimension: focus (what interests they represent) and style (if they behave following instructions or, on the contrary, following their own interests). Likewise, it studied the knowledge on the socio-political and demographic characteristics of the local political elite of the city as well as the identification and definition of the factors that influence (or explain) the configuration of their role vis-à-vis their political representation. Similarly, based on the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of the councilors, it also seeks to answer questions related to democracy, its actors and institutions, political guidelines and the rules of the local political game. The article ends highlighting the scarce literature on local political elites in the Colombian case and, therefore, the need to delve into the study and knowledge of the citizens’ closest representatives.