Presents an analysis of how respect of the rule of law varies across countries that share a common historical heritage and similar socio-economic challenges. This study focuses on the impact of the crime wave on citizens' respect for the law in countries such as Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Mary Fran T Malone's study of public opinion in six central American countries is a treasure house of empirical data on citizen responses to rule-of law dilemmas in the region.