Democracy and Trust

Explores the implications for democracy of declining trust in government and between individuals.

Mark E. Warren (Edited by)

9780521640831, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 October 1999

384 pages, 7 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.68 kg

"...Mark Warren provides an effective framework for the diverse set of contributions that comprise the volume and develops a typoogy of theories of trust and democracy... the volume makes a valuabe contribution to the study of trust and democracy. Virginia A Chanley, Political Theory

Surveys suggest an erosion of trust in government, among individuals, and between groups. Although these trends are often thought to be bad for democracy, the relationship between democracy and trust is paradoxical. Trust can develop where interests converge, but in politics interests conflict. Democracy recognizes that politics does not provide a natural terrain for robust trust relations, and so includes a healthy distrust of the interests of others, especially the powerful. Democratic systems institutionalize distrust by providing many opportunities for citizens to oversee those empowered with the public trust. At the same time, trust is a generic social building block of collective action, and for this reason alone democracy cannot do without trust. At a minimum, democratic institutions depend on a trust among citizens sufficient for representation, resistance, and alternative forms of governance. Bringing together social science and political theory, this book provides a valuable exploration of these central issues.

1. Introduction Mark E. Warren
2. Do we want trust in government? Russell Hardin
3. How can we trust our fellow citizens? Claus Offe
4. Trust, well-being and democracy Ronald Inglehart
5. Democracy and social capital Eric M. Uslaner
6. Liberty against the democratic state: on the historical and contemporary sources of American distrust Orlando Patterson
7. Trust, voluntary association and workable democracy: the contemporary American discourse of civil society Jean Cohen
8. Trust and its surrogates: psychological foundations of political process Rom Harré
9. Geographies of trust James C. Scott
10. Altruistic trust Jane Mansbridge
11. Democratic theory and trust Mark E. Warren
12. Conclusion Mark E. Warren.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA]