Is Satisfaction with Democracy Higher After Transitional Justice Trials?
July 28th, 2025
Javier Padilla’s article, published in Political Behavior and titled “Is Satisfaction with Democracy Higher After Transitional Justice Trials?”, examines the impact of transitional justice trials on citizens’ satisfaction with democracy.
According to the author, such trials are often seen as a polarizing tool, as they can criminalize segments of the former authoritarian elite, which may still retain some popular support. However, these trials can also send a clear message that the current democratic regime is fundamentally different from the previous dictatorship. Drawing on the literature on the “winners and losers” of political processes, Padilla argues that trials increase democratic satisfaction, particularly among those who are ideologically opposed to the former dictatorship.
For more information on the article, click here.