Pew Global Attitudes Project

Crime and Drug Cartels Top Concerns in Mexico

Fewer Than Half See Progress in Drug War

August 31, 2011

As the death toll continues to rise in Mexico's drug war, now claiming more than 35,000 lives since President Felipe Calderón took office in December 2006, fewer than half (45%) of Mexicans say their government is making progress in its campaign against drug cartels; 29% say the government is losing ground and 25% say things are about the same as they have been in the past.

Still, an overwhelming majority (83%) continues to endorse the use of the Mexican army to fight drug traffickers, virtually unchanged in recent years. Moreover, many welcome U.S. help in training Mexican police and military personnel (74%) and providing money and weapons to Mexican police and military forces (64%).

And while Mexicans broadly oppose the deployment of U.S. troops to combat drug traffickers in Mexico (38% support and 57% oppose), more now support this strategy than did so in 2010, when only about a quarter (26%) favored the deployment of U.S. troops in their country and two-thirds opposed it.

The survey of Mexico was conducted by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project between March 22 and April 7.

Read the full report at pewglobal.org for more details on the survey, including findings about who is to blame for the drug violence, U.S. image in Mexico and views of Mexicans on whether moving to the U.S. holds the promise of a better life.