The impact of insecurity and citizen participation on satisfaction with democracy

Abstract

This article analyzes how insecurity and citizen participation affect the democratic satisfaction, the trust in institutions and the rule of law. Firstly, literature about the determinants of satisfaction with a democratic regime is examined according to which criminality affects the perception of security, the evaluation and trust in government, the respect for law and the regime support, essential components of a democratic regime. Then, the results of a random survey conducted in the historic center of Mexico city in 2022 are presented. Results show that when citizens notice a lower presence of crime and have a higher trust in authorities, specially in the police, their satisfaction with the government and the democratic regime increases.