Direct democracy and political trust: Enhancing trust, initiating distrust–or both?

Bauer, Paul Cornelius; Fatke, Tim Matthias Julian (2014). Direct democracy and political trust: Enhancing trust, initiating distrust–or both? Swiss political science review / Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 20(1), pp. 49-69. Wiley 10.1111/spsr.12071

Text Bauer&Fatke_2014.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (274kB) | Request a copy

This study investigates the relationship between direct democracy and political trust. We suggest a solution to the controversy in research centering on positive versus negative effects of direct democracy by analytically differentiating between the availability of direct democratic rights and the actual use of those rights. Theoretically, greater availability of direct democratic rights may enhance political trust by increasing citizens’ perception that political authorities can be controlled as well as by incentivizing political authorities to act trustworthily. In contrast, the actual use of the corresponding direct democratic instruments may initiate distrust as it signals to citizens that political authorities do not act in the public’s interest. We test both hypotheses for the very first time with sub-national data of Switzerland. The empirical results seem to support our theoretical arguments.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

1 since deposited on 15 Dec 2014
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item