New Open Access Publication: Trust and Voter Turnout in Europe - Results from the Horizon TRUEDEM Research Project
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Published in May 2025 by FrancoAngeli in Milan, Italy, as part of the Sociologia Politica series, this volume presents major findings from the TRUEDEM – Trust in European Democracies project, a multi-country research initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. The book is authored by Felice Addeo, Marialaura Ammirato, Angela Delli Paoli, Domenico Fruncillo, Christian Haerpfer, and Domenico Maddaloni—a team of sociologists and political scientists from the University of Salerno and the University of Vienna.
The volume addresses a central concern in contemporary democratic studies: the relationship between trust—in institutions, political actors, and fellow citizens—and voter turnout, which is widely regarded as a key indicator of democratic legitimacy and civic engagement. As levels of political trust decline in many European countries, so too does participation in electoral processes, raising urgent questions about the stability and responsiveness of democratic systems.
Drawing on original data generated through the TRUEDEM project, the book investigates how different types of trust—institutional trust, political trust, and generalized social trust—shape electoral behavior across diverse European contexts. The authors show that trust is not only an outcome of institutional performance but also a precondition for meaningful democratic participation. In particular, the volume explores:
How citizens' trust in government institutions, political parties, and elected officials correlates with their likelihood to vote;
The influence of social trust and perceptions of interpersonal reliability on political engagement;
The varying patterns of trust and turnout across EU member states, highlighting both structural and cultural drivers;
The role of socioeconomic, generational, and regional factors in mediating trust-based electoral participation.
The analysis goes beyond descriptive statistics to offer a nuanced theoretical framework for understanding how trust functions both as a facilitator and as a barrier to democratic participation. It further examines how institutional distrust—when persistent—can erode the legitimacy of representative systems, deepen polarization, and provide fertile ground for populist and anti-system movements.
Importantly, the book does not limit itself to diagnosis. It offers a set of evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at reversing current trends. These include strategies for rebuilding institutional credibility, fostering civic education, enhancing transparency and accountability mechanisms, and strengthening participatory channels beyond elections. The authors argue that targeted democratic innovations and inclusive governance practices can help restore public confidence and encourage more consistent electoral engagement, especially among young and marginalized populations.
By integrating empirical findings with conceptual analysis, the volume makes a dual contribution: it advances the scientific understanding of trust and political behavior in Europe, while also providing actionable insights for policymakers, civil society actors, and electoral institutions. It is particularly relevant in light of the ongoing challenges facing European democracies—from declining turnout to democratic backsliding, polarization, and rising disinformation.
This publication represents a cornerstone output of the TRUEDEM research agenda and is intended to inform both academic debate and institutional practice in the years to come.
The book is available through FrancoAngeli Editore and is categorized under Sociologia: https://series.francoangeli.it/index.php/oa/catalog/book/1361
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