With the intention of giving citizens the opportunity to have a more direct influence in the public life and as a possible answer towards the increasing citizen dissatisfaction towards institutions of representative democracy; in the last years political authorities have sought not only to reinforce institutions of representative democracy, but also to institutionalize mechanisms of direct democracy such as the referendum and the citizens’ initiative.
Although the introduction of mechanisms of direct democracy within the context of representative democracies could entail the empowerment of citizens, it might also alter the power balance between political actors and their influence in the decision-making process. Why both political parties and political authorities would be willing to institutionalize mechanisms that could modify their power and their influence in the decision-making process? The present paper seeks to understand the factors and motives behind the institutionalization of mechanisms of direct democracy, taking as case study Mexico City.
