From Values to Norms: The Role of Perceived Unfairness in Democratic Attitudes

Research on support for democracy has revealed a puzzling contradiction: while citizens overwhelmingly express a preference for democracy as their ideal system of governance, significant levels of support persist for elites and agendas that infringe upon democratic norms. This contradiction raises critical questions about the underlying factors shaping citizens’ commitment to democratic principles. In attempts to address this puzzle, much attention has been devoted to concepts such as democratic (social) norms, group identity, tribalism, and threat perception. However, considerably less research has focused on the role of moral judgment, an integral component of tribalism and social identity dynamics. This study investigates the role of morality by introducing the concept of unfairness, a construct extensively explored in political theory. Humans are highly sensitive to perceptions of unfairness and are often motivated to act when they believe that unfairness has violated deeply held personal or group values. This research hypothesizes that perceptions of unfairness—such as those related to inequality, individual rights, or respect for human dignity—play a significant role in shaping support for or opposition to democratic norms. To test this hypothesis, I focus on Italy and the UK, two countries facing similar social challenges, including inequality, unemployment, and migration. Despite these shared challenges, the countries present contrasting political contexts: Italy is governed by a right-wing coalition, while the UK has a progressive government. These differences provide an opportunity to explore how varying social norms and policy preferences influence citizens’ perceptions of unfairness and their impact on democratic support. To empirically investigate these dynamics, I will collect data in Italy and the UK using surveys with samples representative of age, gender, and education. This approach ensures robust and generalizable insights into the interplay between perceptions of unfairness and democratic norms in differing political contexts. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how moral judgments and perceptions of unfairness shape democratic attitudes, addressing an underexplored dimension of the broader debate on the resilience of democracy in challenging times.