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Endogenizing Social Trust: Democratization in East-Central Europe

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  • LETKI, NATALIA
  • EVANS, GEOFFREY

Abstract

Social trust forms a major component of current conceptions of social capital and as such has been attributed a significant role in providing the social context for the emergence and maintenance of stable, liberal democratic polities and effective economies. Its role in these processes has in turn been generalized to post-communist societies in East-Central Europe undergoing ‘dual transitions’ from authoritarian states with command economies to democratic free-market societies. In this article, however, it is shown that the relations between trust and democratization in East-Central Europe imply a rather different ‘top-down’ process, in which levels of trust reflect rather than influence the effectiveness of political and economic institutions. This calls into question the generalization of models developed in democratic societies to the post-communist context and provides the basis for an alternative understanding of the process of social capital formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Letki, Natalia & Evans, Geoffrey, 2005. "Endogenizing Social Trust: Democratization in East-Central Europe," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 35(3), pages 515-529, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:35:y:2005:i:03:p:515-529_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Sarracino & Małgorzata Mikucka, 2017. "Social Capital in Europe from 1990 to 2012: Trends and Convergence," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 407-432, March.
    2. Sabatini, Fabio, 2006. "The Empirics of Social Capital and Economic Development: A Critical Perspective," Knowledge, Technology, Human Capital Working Papers 12097, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    3. Anna Zimdars & Gindo Tampubolon, 2012. "Ethnic Diversity and European's Generalised Trust: How Inclusive Immigration Policy Can Aid a Positive Association," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 17(3), pages 1-11, August.
    4. Fabio Sabatini, 2005. "The empirics of social capital and economic development. A critical perspective," Development and Comp Systems 0512015, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Holly C. Pope & Margaret C. Miller & Terry A. Wolfer & Joshua R. Mann & Robert E. McKeown, 2013. "Psychometric Analysis of a Scale to Assess Norms of Reciprocity of Social Support in Community-Based and Congregation-Based Groups," SAGE Open, , vol. 3(4), pages 21582440135, December.
    6. Milosav, Đorđe & Nistotskaya, Marina, 2024. "Unpacking the relevance of interpersonal trust in the blockchain era: Theory and experimental evidence," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    7. Natalia Letki & Mierina, I. (Inta), 2012. "GINI DP 45: The Power of Networks. Individual and Contextual Determinants of Mobilising Social Networks for Help," GINI Discussion Papers 45, AIAS, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.
    8. Chen, Jidong & Liu, Shenglong & Zhang, Xiaoming & Zhou, Xingyu, 2023. "Building social trust through education," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    9. Fabio Sabatini, 2005. "The empirics of social capital and economic development: a critical perspective," Development and Comp Systems 0512008, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Christian Bjørnskov, 2010. "How does social trust lead to better governance? An attempt to separate electoral and bureaucratic mechanisms," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 323-346, July.
    11. Goeschl, Timo & Jarke, Johannes, 2014. "Trust, but verify? When trustworthiness is observable only through (costly) monitoring," WiSo-HH Working Paper Series 20, University of Hamburg, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, WISO Research Laboratory.
    12. Marco Ferroni & Mercedes Mateo Díaz & J. Mark Payne, 2007. "Development under Conditions of Inequality and Distrust: An Exploration of the Role of Social Capital and Social Cohesion in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 53818, Inter-American Development Bank.
    13. M. Brzeziński & B. Jancewicz & Natalia Letki, 2013. "GINI Country Report: Growing Inequalities and their Impacts in Poland," GINI Country Reports poland, AIAS, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.
    14. Natalia Letki, 2008. "Does Diversity Erode Social Cohesion? Social Capital and Race in British Neighbourhoods," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 56(1), pages 99-126, March.
    15. Vedran Recher, 2022. "History Matters: Life Satisfaction in Transition Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 171-193, January.
    16. Kalischer Wellander, Benjamin & Sanandaji, Tino, 2018. "Tracing the Historic Roots of Generalized Trust," SSE Working Paper Series in Economic History 2018:1, Stockholm School of Economics, revised 10 May 2018.
    17. Beata Łopaciuk-Gonczaryk, 2019. "Does Participation in Social Networks Foster Trust and Respect for Other People—Evidence from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, March.
    18. Michał Wróblewski & Andrzej Meler & Joanna Stankowska & Ewa Kawiak-Jawor, 2022. "An Analysis of Factors Shaping Vaccine Attitudes and Behaviours in a Low-Trust Society Based on Structural Equation Modelling—The Case of Poland’s Vaccination Programme against COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.

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