2010 Political Culture of Democracy

Key Findings

• Democracy proved surprisingly resilient during hard times. Despite 90% of citizens perceiving an economic crisis and more than a quarter of households seeing a family member lose a job, support for democracy and the political system remained largely steady across the region. Citizens who viewed their government as handling the crisis well were more likely to remain satisfied with life and committed to democratic values — a sign that good governance can buffer democratic support during hard times.
• Crime and corruption continue to erode trust in government. Nearly one in five people across the Americas reported being a victim of crime in the past year, and experiences with corruption varied widely by country — from about half of Haitians reporting a bribe request to just 4% of Canadians. Both crime and corruption were linked to weaker support for the political system and the rule of law.
• Support for stable democracy varies widely across countries. The share of citizens with attitudes most supportive of stable democracy — high system support paired with political tolerance — ranged from about half of Uruguayans to under 4% of Haitians. Regionwide, the Catholic Church and the armed forces remained the most trusted institutions, while congresses and political parties were the least trusted.