Political Trust and Trustworthiness Across Europe

Join us for an engaging research seminar exploring political trust and trustworthiness across Europe! How do citizens assess the credibility of their governments? Why do some societies exhibit deep skepticism, while others lean toward uncritical trust? And what role do social media and disinformation play in the growing polarization of trust? 

In this seminar, Pavol Babos (TRUEDEM-Slovakia) will present insights from his latest study, Social Media Influencing Political Attitudes: Trust vs. Trustworthiness, applying a novel conceptualization by Pippa Norris and a residual-based analytical approach. Drawing on data from Eurobarometer, Eurostat, the Varieties of Democracy project, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the study employs multilevel mediation analysis to explore the effects of social media and political elites spreading disinformation.

Key Discussion Points:

• The distinction between skeptical vs. credulous trust and its implications for democracy

• How social media and disinformation contribute to trust polarization

• The impact of ideological alignment on perceptions of political trustworthiness

Join the discussion and gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of political trust across Europe! 

The seminar will take place on February 20, 2025 starting at 14:30 CET at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Philosophy, Comenius University.