Insecurity, Fear and Mistrust in Buenos Aires - Construction of Trust in the Realm of Criminal Courts

• Applicant: Dr. Ingo Rohrer
• Subject Area: Social and Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271307114

Throughout the last decades the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires has faced an increasing problem of confidence and trust, which not only determines the relationship between citizens and the state but also the relations among the citizens. Mistrust and fear of crime are sensations which are widespread in the society of Argentina and which lead to the circumstance that people who are associated with delinquency are increasingly marginalized. Since crime is often set in connection with poverty, tensions between different socio-economic groups arise and attempts to clearly mark a difference to the opposite 'other' are evident. The research project has the objective to focus on the link between this societal mistrust and the lack of confidence towards state institutions. It aims to clarify to which extent state institutions can contribute to the creation and consolidation of confidence and trust and thus may promote the mitigation of social conflicts. The focus is placed on the criminal justice system. Participants in trials, such as judges, court officials, defense lawyers, defendants, witnesses, journalists, etc. will be taken into consideration in order to determine their socially and culturally influenced perceptions of the respective 'Other' and the influence of this perception on the process of trust building. The project thus pursues the objective to explore the connection between personal (but professional) relationships of trust and institutional trust.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants