Trust in Government and Level of Democracy in Asian Countries

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

A basic level of trust in the political system is regarded as a cornerstone of modern democracy since trust of citizens in their national political institutions is an important facet of the legitimacy of representative democracy. However, it is very ironical to find that many countries, especially the developed democratic countries, are today gripped by the fear of declining political trust. Strangely enough it is parallel to the expansion and consolidation of democratic regimes across the world. This study aims not only to test the evaluative character of political trust as confidence in government but also to examine how political trust is assessed in Asian societies and whether it is declining as the societies become more democratic. Political trust is much like a double-edged sword. In a democratic society, declining public confidence in government weakens the incumbent administration and improves the chances for reforms advocated by its antagonists. In contrast, in an authoritarian regime, a high level political trust can be not only an obstacle to democratization but also a political asset to maintain power. Especially in Asia, all the determinants such economic performance, corruption, etc. which were confirmed previously, do not explain political trust. The level of democracy or regime type is the only explanatory factor.

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