December, 2006 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… TTTHHHEEE PPPOOOLLLIIITTTIIICCCAAALLL CCCUUULLLTTTUUURRREEE OOOFFF DDDEEEMMMOOOCCCRRRAAACCCYYY IIINNN MMMEEEXXXIIICCCOOO::: 222000000666 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… By: Pablo Parás, President, DATA Opinión Pública y Mercados Ken Coleman, Ph.D., University of Michigan With the help of: Carlos López Luis Estrada Erica Coronel Mitchell A. Seligson, Ph.D., Scientific Coordinator and Editor of the Series, Vanderbilt University ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… This study was carried out thanks to the support of the Democracy and Governance Program of the United States Agency for International Development. The opinions expressed in this study belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the point of view of the United States Agency for International Development. The Political Culture of Democracy in Mexico: 2006 Table of contents List of graphics and maps.............................................................................................. iii List of tables and regressions...........................................................................................v Presentation ...................................................................................................................................vi Foreword......................................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................xi Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................xiv I. Context ...................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Economic context ......................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Economic agenda pending the following government ...................................................3 1.1.2 Advances and achievements...........................................................................................6 1.2 Political context .........................................................................................................7 1.2.1 Recent elections..............................................................................................................9 1.2.2 Presidential contest of 2006............................................................................................9 1.3 Studies on electoral behavior and political culture in Mexico ................................10 References: ............................................................................................................................11 II. Methodology.........................................................................................................................13 2.1 Selection of the sample and characteristics of the survey .......................................13 III. Conceptions of Democracy .............................................................................................19 3.1 Explaining How Mexicans Understand Democracy ...............................................22 3.2 Mexican Conceptions in Comparative Perspective.................................................27 References: ............................................................................................................................31 TECHNICAL APPENDIX TO THE CHAPTER .................................................................32 IV. Democratic Stability........................................................................................................33 4.1.Political Tolerance in Mexico..................................................................................34 4.1.1 A Comparative View of Political Tolerance.................................................................35 4.1.2 Explaining Political Tolerance in Mexico ....................................................................37 4.2. Socio-Political Tolerance .......................................................................................39 4.3. Support for the Political System.............................................................................41 4.3.1 A Comparative View of Political Support....................................................................43 4.3.2 Explaining Political Support in Mexico .......................................................................44 4.4. Support for Stable Democracy In Mexico..............................................................47 4.4.1 A Comparative Perspective on Support for Stable Democracy...................................48 4.5 Conclusions .......................................................................................................49 References: ............................................................................................................................51 V. Corruption and Democracy................................................................................................54 5.1 Mexico from a comparative perspective .................................................................55 5.2 Victimization from corruption in Mexico ...............................................................56 5.3 Effects of victimization by corruption on legitimacy.............................................64 5.4 Conclusions .............................................................................................................69 References: ............................................................................................................................70 TECHNICAL APPENDIX OF THE CHAPTER..................................................................71 VI. Crime Victimization and the Rule of Law ....................................................................72 6.1 Crime Victimization in Comparative Perspective...................................................73 6.1.1 Types of Crime Victimization in Mexico.....................................................................74 6.2 Trust in Institutions of the Justice System.......................................................................77 i The Political Culture of Democracy in Mexico: 2006 6.2.1 Comparative Perceptions of the Justice System ...........................................................78 6.3 Preoccupation with Personal Security in Neighborhood.........................................79 6.4 Crime as a Threat to Future Well-Being in Mexico ................................................81 6.5 Justice from the Court Systems of Mexico..............................................................82 6.6 Effects on Victimization on Respect for Due Process.............................................83 6.7 Do Conceptualizations of Democracy Affect Respect for Due Process?................83 6.8 What Determines Respect for Due Process? ...........................................................84 References: ............................................................................................................................85 TECHNICAL APPENDIX TO THE CHAPTER .................................................................86 VII. Local Government...........................................................................................................87 7.1 Citizen Requests for Help from Various Levels of Government ......................88 7.1.1 Determinants of Citizen Requests for Help from Local Officials ................................90 7.2 Recent Participation in Local Government .............................................................91 7.2.1 Local Participation in Comparative Perspective...........................................................93 7.2.2 Determinants of Attendance at Open Town/Delegation Meetings...............................95 7.3 Responsiveness, Respect and Quality of Local Services ........................................96 7.3.1 Mexicans Views of Municipal Service Quality in Comparative Perspective.............102 7.3.2 Determinants of Perceived Responsiveness, Respect and Quality of Local Services 103 7.4 Citizen Views on the Premises of Decentralization ..............................................104 7.4.1 Determinants of Citizen Views on Premises of Decentralization...............................108 7.5 Implications for Decentralization in Mexico.........................................................109 References: ..........................................................................................................................111 TECHNICAL APPENDIX TO THE CHAPTER ...............................................................112 VIII. Electoral Behavior.........................................................................................................116 8.1 Ideology and party loyalty.....................................................................................118 8.2 Satisfaction with democracy..................................................................................120 8.3 Presidential approval .............................................................................................121 8.4 Election reforms ....................................................................................................122 8.5 Conclusions ...........................................................................................................125