Trust, Distrust, and Mistrust in Multinational Democracies: Comparative Perspectives

The first collaborative, critical, historical, and comparative survey of the dynamics of trust, distrust, and mistrust in multinational democracies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2018
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Over the past three decades, the significance of research on the concept of trust has significantly increased within the social sciences. Numerous discussions have taken place regarding the decline of political trust in democracies, while intense debates have emerged regarding the nature and complexity of the relationship between trust and democracy. Political trust is typically understood as encompassing trust in political institutions, including trust in the political actors within these institutions, trust between citizens, and to a lesser extent, trust between groups. However, the literature on trust has paid limited attention to the issue of trust between minority and majority nations in multinational democracies. These countries not only exhibit multiculturalism but also serve as constitutional associations comprising two or more nations or peoples, each of which claims self-governance and the right to self-determination.

This volume, a part of the work of the Groupe de recherche sur les sociétés plurinationales (GRSP), constitutes a comparative study of trust, distrust, and mistrust in multinational democracies, with a focus on Canada, Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The study examines beliefs, attitudes, practices, and relationships of trust, distrust, and mistrust as situated, interacting, and coexisting phenomena that evolve over time and space. Contributors to this volume include Dario Castiglione (Exeter), Jérôme Couture (INRS-UCS), Kris Deschouwer (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Jean Leclair (Montréal), Patti Tamara Lenard (Ottawa), Niels Morsink (Antwerp), Geneviève Nootens (Chicoutimi), Darren OToole (Ottawa), Alexandre Pelletier (Toronto), Réjean Pelletier (Laval), Philip Resnick (UBC), David Robichaud (Ottawa), Peter Russell (Toronto), Richard Simeon (Toronto), Dave Sinardet (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), and Jeremy Webber (Victoria).

The significance of this research lies in its exploration of trust dynamics within multinational democracies, which are characterized by diverse populations and complex political systems. By examining the experiences of these countries, researchers aim to gain insights into the factors that contribute to trust, distrust, and mistrust, as well as the strategies employed to promote and sustain trust within these contexts. The findings of this research have the potential to inform policymakers, civil society organizations, and individuals about the importance of trust in democratic societies and the challenges associated with building and maintaining trust across different cultural and political boundaries.

Weight: 588g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780773553439