Abstract
The chapter examines the public’s trust in Icelandic democracy, focusing
on two core pillars: political engagement and political support. Structured
around these themes, the chapter first assesses political engagement
through measures such as interest in politics, party affiliation, and
voting behaviour, using data from the Icelandic National Election Study
(ICENES). The analysis then shifts to political support, which is categorised
into three types: specific support, reflecting trust in individual
politicians and perceptions of corruption; systemic support, evaluating
confidence in the democratic system and electoral integrity; and societal
support, encompassing national pride and general trust among citizens.
The findings reveal that, while Icelanders exhibit high levels of political
engagement and a strong societal support, trust in politicians remains
low, with many viewing them as corrupt. Despite this, faith in democracy
as a system remains robust. The chapter concludes that Icelandic
democracy is fundamentally strong but faces challenges, particularly
in bolstering specific support, which is essential to maintaining trust in
democratic institutions and preventing populist disillusionment.
on two core pillars: political engagement and political support. Structured
around these themes, the chapter first assesses political engagement
through measures such as interest in politics, party affiliation, and
voting behaviour, using data from the Icelandic National Election Study
(ICENES). The analysis then shifts to political support, which is categorised
into three types: specific support, reflecting trust in individual
politicians and perceptions of corruption; systemic support, evaluating
confidence in the democratic system and electoral integrity; and societal
support, encompassing national pride and general trust among citizens.
The findings reveal that, while Icelanders exhibit high levels of political
engagement and a strong societal support, trust in politicians remains
low, with many viewing them as corrupt. Despite this, faith in democracy
as a system remains robust. The chapter concludes that Icelandic
democracy is fundamentally strong but faces challenges, particularly
in bolstering specific support, which is essential to maintaining trust in
democratic institutions and preventing populist disillusionment.
| Original language | Icelandic |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Lognmolla í ólgusjó |
| Subtitle of host publication | Alþingiskosningarnar 2021 og kjósendur í áranna rás |
| Place of Publication | Reykjavík |
| Publisher | Háskólaútgáfan |
| Chapter | 8 |
| Pages | 167-190 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-9935-23-339-4 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-9935-23-339-4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |