Democracy and electoral participation in Barranquilla: An analysis of political narratives, emotional values and the dominance of ‘Casa Char’

Abstract

The research analyzes how the political group 'Casa Char' has consolidated its dominance in Barranquilla through a combination of progress narratives, emotional ties with voters, and centralization of power. Through semi-structured interviews and surveys, a process of deideologization in the electorate was identified, where loyalty to specific leaders and practices such as vote buying are predominant. The study reveals that the lack of generational turnover and the failure of left-wing projects have facilitated the rise of 'Casa Char,' highlighting a contradictory political maturity and a landscape where political practices and ethical dilemmas affect social cohesion and the quality of local democracy.