Societal trust and nation-thinking in the midst of a pandemic – Central Europe and Scandinavia

  • Alexander Bielicki

Abstract

Trust in those who lead the government, trust in the way society is ordered, and trust in other people can all
influence how individuals perceive the country in which they live. This study examines the different facets of
societal trust (the complex network of state, political, national and social trust) in four European countries –
Norway, Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – and connects these with how people understand their
society to be organized, especially the degree to which the national frame is relevant. The results presented
from these four countries offer a more nuanced picture of what it means to have trust in government and
institutions and what it means to have trust in those who inhabit one’s country, especially in a time of crisis.
The main data sources are identical surveys in four languages.

Published
2021-06-20
How to Cite
Bielicki, A. (2021). Societal trust and nation-thinking in the midst of a pandemic – Central Europe and Scandinavia. Köz-Gazdaság - Review of Economic Theory and Policy, 16(2), 61-77. Retrieved from https://retp.eu/index.php/retp/article/view/1325