A poll carried out by the Instituto de Estudios de Población y Desarrollo, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development and its Proyecto para el Apoyo a Iniciativas Democráticas carried out by the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, shows that political parties, congress and unions are the lowest on the list of entities and persons that Dominicans trust. Two of three persons interviewed believe that politics is a medium used by people to obtain personal benefits. Only 15.2% of those polled thinks that political participation is a way to help improve situations. Institutions Dominicans trust the most are the press and the church. The Demos 97, "La cultura política dominicana: Entre el Paternalismo y la Participación" study was carried out from June and July 1997.
