Activating European Citizens ' Trust in Times of Crisis and Polarization

Activating European Citizens’ Trust in Times of Crisis and Polarization



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English | March 27, 2026 | ISBN-10: 3032191181 | 158 pages| Epub PDF (True) | 18 MB

This open access book explains why representative cracies need political trust and legitimacy: Political trust is a crucial yet underestimated element in Europe’s representative cracies. A trusting relationship between citizens and the institutions of the state ensures the functioning of cratic systems, reduces transaction costs and facilitates the justification of political decisions. Without the commitment of a critical mass, cratic governments cannot gain legitimacy among the populace. While a stable relationship of trust between citizens and the state through political parties is a prerequisite for representative cracies in normal times, it is even more important in times of significant cratic change and turmoil, i.e., when cracies are in flux. Accordingly, the contributions gathered here examine political trust and legitimacy in Europe using a new conceptual framework – the ActEU conceptual triangle, which draws on citizens’ political attitudes, their political participation, and the representation of their political preferences to map and assess the decline of political trust and legitimacy in Europe.