Repression, participation and democratic norms in urban Central America

Theory: Few studies have examined political repression's effects upon individual behavior and attitudes. We theorize that regimes use repression to constrain political behavior and values so as to limit demands and opposition. We therefore expect intense repression to reduce participation and support for democracy. Hypotheses: Using six Central American countries for a most-similar systems test, we hypothesize that, other factors held constant, both 1) citizens perceiving more repression and 2) citizens of repressive regimes will report less political participation and lower support for democratic norms. Methods: Using early 1990s public opinion data from six urban Central American samples, we employ multiple regression to examine how perceived repression and systemic repression affect citizens' participation and support for democratic norms. Also analyzed are individual demographic, resource and attitudinal items, and systemic measures of regime stability, and economic development. Results: More intense regime repression markedly reduces both citizen activity and support for democracy in Central America. Perceived repression has no impact upon participation and very little impact upon democratic norms.