Abstract
Abstract
This chapter extends the descriptive picture of the previous chapter by exploring why levels of trust in Britain have declined over the past four or more decades. The longitudinal analysis identifies changing levels of trust among individuals located in different socio-economic groups within the population. In particular, the findings point to a growing gap in trust between society’s ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. This analysis is extended to other European countries and provides important clues about why trust has declined in some advanced democracies. At the same time, the evidence from Britain does not suggest that declining trust reflects age or generational effects. Beyond socio-economic and demographic factors, the chapter also considers how far changes in trust reflect people’s attitudes, in particular feelings of political representation and evaluations and expectations of government delivery.
Publisher
Oxford University PressOxford
Reference567 articles.
1. Aarts, Kees, Carolien van Ham, and Jacques Thomassen (2017) ‘Modernization, Globalization and Satisfaction with Democracy’, in Carolien van Ham et al., eds, Myth and Reality of the Legitimacy Crisis: Explaining Trends and Cross-National Differences in Established Democracies, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 37–58.
2. The Divided Electorate: Media Use and Political Involvement;Journal of Politics,2003
3. Aarts, Kees, Audun Fladmoe, and Jesper Strömbäck (2012) ‘Media, Political Trust, and Political Knowledge: A Comparative Perspective’, in Toril Aalberg and James Curran, eds, How Media Inform Democracy: A Comparative Approach, London: Routledge, pp. 98–118.
4. Aarts, Kees, Jacques Thomassen, and Carolien van Ham (2014) ‘Globalization, Representation and Attitudes towards Democracy’, in Jacques Thomassen, ed, Elections and Democracy: Representation and Accountability, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 201–231.
5. Substance Matters: How News Content Can Reduce Political Cynicism;International Journal of Public Opinion Research,2012