Political Participation in Mexico in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Over the past decade, democratic regimes around the world have experienced declining legitimacy among citizens, and Mexico is no exception. The lack of political representation by those in government has led citizens to participate less actively in public affairs, contributing to democratic decline. This essay assesses the meaning of citizen political participation in Mexico. It reviews several indicators that offer insight into citizens’ perceptions of credibility and political participation within the regime. Although these indicators may seem encouraging because of high electoral turnout, this optimism is not general, since a large proportion of the population remains dissatisfied with the country’s democratic regime. This dissatisfaction is reflected in citizens’ attitudes toward public affairs, ranging from a political culture of apathy to the persistence of cultural attitudes inherited from the authoritarian regime, which have not been eradicated from Mexico’s civic political culture.