Economic Crisis and Shifts in Trust: Southern European Countries in Comparative Perspective

In the course of the last ten years several Southern European societies have undergone episodes of socio-economic crisis. While the causes, duration and intensity of the crisis are not unitary but variable, all affected countries and societies have had to cope with it and overcome it too. In this sense the crisis may be seen as a common denominator that distinguishes such countries/societies, alongside a set of other common features, from the rest of Europe. In particular, in the course of undergoing the crisis the affected societies have been additionally burdened by the wearing down of an indispensable quality for social life, namely of trust that is an essential value in itself and vital for social interaction. In support of this claim various measurements are available, which indicate that generalized as well as more specific political sensitive forms of trust has been faltering significantly during the crisis years. My central aim then in this paper is to examine the relationship between socio-economic crisis and trust, with an emphasis in trust in government and political institutions. Specifically, to establish whether there is in fact a link between these variables, and if so to ponder on the challenge to overhaul the damage. In fact, this would be an imperative if recovery is to take place while the democratic features of Southern European countries are preserved. For these purposes, I draw from data collected in the context of the World Values Survey-wave 7 and the European Values Survey and from the Standard Eurobarometer.