FOR THE PRESS

Improving Salvadorians' attitudes toward civic participation, their fellow citizens, and their democratic institutions is crucial to developing democratic stability in El Salvador, a country in which crime and a sense of insecurity prevail. On May 18, 2007, the Latin American Public Opinion Project released a comparative study in San Salvador, entitled La Cultura Política de la Democracia en El Salvador: 2006. Findings include strong citizen support of democratic governments: 87.6% prefer electoral democracy and 72.7% choose a democratic government over an authoritarian one. Yet, compared to 2004, there was an increase in the number of people favoring authoritarian values and higher mistrust of public institutions.

The Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) has unveiled – for the first time in Latin America – the comprehensive results of surveys that assess the political culture of 21 countries in the Western hemisphere.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Colombian government enjoys high levels of citizen support and Colombians trust the democratic system according to a new survey.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A survey shows that Chile is one of the most efficient governments in Latin America. While Chileans perceive their government as very effective at protecting human rights and promoting democracy, they find it less so when it comes to dealing with corruption and unemployment.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A comparative study shows that Guatemalan women tend not to vote. This is especially true of those who lack education and live in rural areas.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In 2006, Costa Ricans showed the lowest support for democracy in 20 years. This goes hand in hand with their distrust in public institutions and intolerance levels similar to those found in Mexico and the rest of Central America.

Curbing corruption and violence and opening up government meetings and financial information to public scrutiny are keys to promoting democracy in Honduras, where support for a democratic government has increased

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Democracy has solid majority support in Peru yet still lags behind most other Latin American countries, according to a survey by the Latin American Public Opinion Project released in Lima, Peru.