The Interplay Between Political Beliefs, Institutional Trust, and Political Participation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3758Keywords:
politics, psychology, beliefs, political beliefs, trust, institutional trust, political participation, polarization, political polarization, democracy, representationAbstract
Our democracy is dependent on political participation, which ensures inclusiveness and representation when working towards change. Despite how important it is, many citizens and eligible voters choose not to engage in politics. This paper investigates the interconnectedness between political beliefs, institutional trust, and political participation to better understand the causes of political activeness. Drawing from existing evidence, we discuss how individual political beliefs are shaped by familial and environmental influences, media exposure, and social networks. We explore the connection between this, and the role of institutional trust, and how this impacts individuals’ feelings of political efficacy, as well as their desire to engage in expressing their political values – such as through voting and political consumerism. This connection is important in order to transform our democracy into one that is representative of everyone, no matter their identity or place in society. Ultimately, by examining these factors, we aim to find ways to increase political engagement and a more representative democratic process.
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