The Effect of Human Rights Prosecutions on Trust in Democracy
Open Access
Author:
Novopachennaia, Yelena Vladimirovna
Area of Honors:
International Politics
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Joseph Wright, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Gretchen G Casper, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
human rights Latin America trust democracy satisfaction preference
Abstract:
This study examines the effect of human rights prosecutions on people’s trust in democracy. Specifically, it is hypothesized that the occurrence of human rights trials will lead to greater preference in, and satisfaction with democracy in Latin American nations. Using multivariate analysis and controlling for economic factors, satisfaction with the armed forces, and country fixed effects shows that human rights trials are positively associated with satisfaction with democracy as well as a preference for democracy. These results demonstrate that nations in transition to democracy must hold accountable previous perpetrators of human rights violations in order to strengthen citizen trust and therefore participation in the new democracy.
