Political Disengagement and Trust in Europe

2

Political Disengagement and Trust in Europe Do patterns of engagement and trust differ across countries? And what about between different generations?

We've analysed data from all six waves of the European Social Survey (a cross-national survey that is conducted every two years across Europe) between 2002 and 2012 to try and answer these questions.

3

Trust and engagementThere is a link between trust and political participation. In 2012, countries that reported the highest levels of trust in politicians, like Sweden, tended to have higher rates of participation in political and social activities (e.g., signing a petition, joining a protest or political party, etc.).

4

However, this isn't universal - participation also clearly seems to be related to political, social and economic circumstances within a country.

5

Country Participated in at least 1 pol act? Iceland 83.91%

Sweden 74.39%

Finland 67.64%

Germany 67.31%

Norway 67.12%

Spain 57.23%

Denmark 56.91%

Switzerland 54.79%

Netherlands 46.23%

Belgium 45.75%

United Kingdom 45.01%

Ireland 41.25%

Israel 35.96%

Czech Republic 34.00%

Kosovo 29.65%

Cyprus 28.41%

Slovakia 27.99%

Estonia 25.46%

Poland 22.29%Russian Federation 18.92%

Portugal 18.04%

Slovenia 17.98%

Bulgaria 15.66%

Source: European Social Survey, 2012

6

Country Signed petition last 12 month

Iceland 56.4%

Sweden 43.6%

Norway 35.4%

Germany 34.9%

Switzerland 34.1%

Spain 33.2%

United Kingdom 32.1%

Denmark 25.0%

Finland 23.7%

Ireland 23.6%

Netherlands 22.2%

Belgium 20.6%

Slovakia 20.0%

Czech Republic 18.9%

Israel 13.4%

Cyprus 10.8%

Poland 10.4%

Kosovo 9.9%

Estonia 9.6%

Bulgaria 7.9%

Slovenia 7.5%

Portugal 7.5%Russian Federation 6.0%

Source: European Social Survey, 2012

7Source: European Social Survey, 2012

8

Trust in national governments and parliaments and in the European UnionA closer look at the data shows that there are some common characteristics between countries with more disengaged and less trusting populations. Mistrust of governments and politicians is higher in countries that have faced recent economic and social turmoil (e.g., Cyprus) as well as former Eastern Bloc countries (e.g., Poland) with only a few decades of modern democracy under their belts.

9

Country Trust in country's parliament

Norway 6.2

Switzerland 6.1

Denmark 6.1

Sweden 5.9

Finland 5.9

Netherlands 5.2

Belgium 5

Germany 4.8

United Kingdom 4.2

Iceland 4.2

Israel 4.1

Estonia 3.9

Ireland 3.6

Spain 3.4

Cyprus 3.3Russian Federation 3.3

Czech Republic 3.1

Slovakia 3.1

Kosovo 3.1

Slovenia 2.9

Poland 2.9

Portugal 2.5

Bulgaria 2.1

Source: European Social Survey, 2012

10

Country Trust in politicians

Switzerland 5.2

Denmark 5.3

Netherlands 5.1

Norway 5.1

Finland 4.8

Sweden 4.7

Belgium 4.3

Iceland 3.8

Germany 3.7

United Kingdom 3.6

Estonia 3.2

Israel 3.1

Ireland 3.1

Russian Federation 2.9

Slovakia 2.7

Czech Republic 2.5

Cyprus 2.5

Slovenia 2.2

Poland 2.2

Kosovo 2.1

Spain 1.9

Portugal 1.7

Bulgaria 1.7

Source: European Social Survey, 2012

11

Trust in institutions in EuropeOver the six waves of the European Social Survey (2002-2012), trust in politicians and political and social institutions has generally declined. In 2010, in the immediate wake of the global recession, levels of trust in parliaments, legal systems and politicians reached their lowest points. Levels of trust increased slightly in 2012.

12

Trust in institutions across Europe

Source: European Social Survey, 2012

13

Trust in European institutions

European Parliament European Commission European Central Bank European Union Political parties0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

39%

35% 34%31%

14%

Tend to trust

Source: Eurobarometer: Public Opinion in the European Union: First Results. European Commission: Brussels, December 2013

14

Does my voice count in the EU?The Eurobarometer surveys also show thatEuropeans have become more likely to thinkthat their voice does not count in the EU.While in 2004, 52% of respondents felt theirvoice did not matter in the EU, this increasedto 66% in 2013.

15

Does my voice count in the EU?

Denmark

Belgu

im

Luxem

bourg

Polan

dIre

land

Europ

ean U

nion

Slova

kia

Lithuan

ia UK

Portug

alIta

lyLat

viaGree

ceCy

prus

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00% 57.00%

47.00%

42.00%39.00%

31.00%29.00%

27.00%23.00%

19.00% 18.00% 17.00%15.00%

13.00%11.00%

Source: Eurobarometer: Public Opinion in the European Union: First Results. European Commission: Brussels, December 2013

16

What can be done to remedy decline in trust and participation?

The recent British Social Attitudes Survey shows the public want their elected representatives to take some decisions for them, but want a say on big, ethical and democratic questions.

17

Referenda on local issues

Source: NatCen Social Research, British Social Attitudes, 2011

Give more power to the EU?

78%

22%Elected MPs inParliament

Everyone in areferendum

Who should decide whether Britain should give more powers to the EU?

Weighted base 1630 respondents. Excludes those who did not answer and those who could not choose between the options

Source: NatCen Social Research, British Social Attitudes, 2011

If you want further information or would like to contact the author,Penny Young Chief ExecutiveT. 020 7250 1866E. penny.young@natcen.ac.ukVisit us online. www.natcen.ac.uk

Thank you