Corruption erodes social trust more in democracies than in autocracies (frontiersin.org)

Article summary

A study found that corruption erodes social trust more in democracies than in autocracies, due to the violation of democratic norms of equality and impartiality. The research suggests that corruption in democracies signals a breach of the social contract and implicates the citizenry, leading to a stronger psychological link between corruption perceptions and generalized trust. In contrast, corruption in autocracies is often expected and does not implicate the citizenry in the same way. The study's findings have implications for understanding democratic resilience and the importance of addressing corruption in democratic societies.

Main themes

• Corruption and social trust
• Democratic vs autocratic regimes
• Institutional failure
• Normative frameworks
• Political psychology
• Regime type and trust

What commenters say

• The relationship between corruption and social trust is influenced by cultural and educational factors, rather than just regime type.
• China's high social trust scores may be due to heavy-handed control measures and fear, rather than genuine trust.
• The concept of social trust can be defined and measured in different ways, leading to varying conclusions about its relationship to corruption.
• Historical context, such as the rise of Nazi Germany, suggests that high social trust can coexist with authoritarianism and atrocities.
• The distinction between street-level corruption and corruption in high places is important, with the former being more visible and the latter potentially more damaging to social trust.
• Some argue that addressing corruption requires a nuanced understanding of the complex factors at play, including the role of institutions, culture, and history.
• Others propose that corruption is a symptom of deeper issues, such as inequality and neglect of the well-being of citizens, which must be addressed to restore social trust.
• The effectiveness of anti-corruption campaigns, such as Xi's in China, is debated, with some seeing them as genuine efforts to address corruption and others as tools for consolidating power.