The Importance of Trust in Democratic Institutions
For democracies to function effectively, trust in institutions is essential. Citizens must believe that their government and its systems are capable of delivering public goods and maintaining order. However, every instance of poor service delivery or corruption can erode this trust, leading to a loss of confidence in the political system.
In South Africa, recent allegations by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, have raised concerns about the integrity of the police and the criminal justice system. He accused members of these institutions of being involved in organized crime. These accusations are currently under investigation by the Madlanga Commission and are being reviewed by an ad hoc committee in parliament.
General Mkhwanazi claimed that the police minister, other members of the South African Police Force, and parts of the judiciary interfered with his investigation into political assassinations. He alleged that they attempted to shut down the “political killings task team” due to their own connections to organized crime.
Over time, signs of corruption have significantly reduced political trust among citizens in South Africa. This article explores the findings of recent surveys conducted by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network, as well as two attitude surveys carried out by Citizen Surveys for the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) chair in Gender Politics.
Prof Gouws specializes in survey construction and data analysis, while Dr. Kupolusi, her post-doctoral fellow, performed the statistical analysis for this study. The SARChI research will be published once the project is completed.
Political Trust and Legitimacy
Political trust is a key factor in determining whether citizens accept the legitimacy of their political system. When people believe that the system is legitimate, they are more likely to obey laws and support the rule of law. This trust is closely tied to the concepts of political support and legitimacy, which are interconnected but distinct.
According to David Easton, a political scientist, political trust refers to the perceived likelihood that the political system will deliver public goods without requiring constant scrutiny from citizens. Political trust is linked to both support for the regime and its legitimacy.
Support for political authorities typically manifests in two forms: trust in them and belief in their legitimacy. Trust exists when citizens feel that their interests will be addressed even if the authorities are not closely monitored. Legitimacy arises when people believe it is right and proper to accept and obey the authorities.
Easton identified two types of support: diffuse support, which reflects positive attitudes toward the regime and its principles, and specific support, which relates to trust in the current leaders of the political system. Diffuse support is generally more enduring than specific support.
Research has shown that trust in institutions such as parliament, parties, and courts plays a more significant role in shaping public opinion than economic performance. While economic factors are more important in high-income countries, trust in institutions and free elections are crucial in newer democracies.
Declining Levels of Trust
Through various surveys conducted at different times (2018 and 2022), this article highlights the decline in institutional trust in South Africa over the years. This decline has negatively impacted the political system.
The most recent Afrobarometer survey (Round 9, 2022) included a national sample of 1,582 respondents. It found that 66% of respondents had no trust in the police, 73% in parliament, 75% in the ruling party, and 72% in opposition parties. Only the courts saw “no trust” levels below 50%.
These findings align with those of our own surveys conducted in 2018 and 2022 by Citizen Surveys, a Cape Town-based survey company. The survey used a national stratified sample of 1,300 respondents across all nine provinces and was translated into seven languages. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by fieldworkers.
Our surveys show a decline in trust over time in key institutions like the police, parliament, and political parties, with “no trust” levels exceeding 50% in all cases.
Attitudes Toward the Rule of Law
When it comes to the rule of law, our 2022 data revealed concerning trends. For example:
- 45.8% of respondents believed it was not necessary to obey the laws of a corrupt government.
- 69% thought it was acceptable to “get around the law as long as you don’t break it.”
- 62% agreed that it was fine to suspend the law during emergencies.
- 50.4% felt it was better to ignore the law and solve problems immediately rather than wait for legal solutions (vigilante justice).
What surprised us was the gender gap in attitudes toward the rule of law. In our 2022 data:
- 44% of men agreed that it was not necessary to obey the laws of a corrupt government, compared to 47% of women.
- 65.6% of men supported getting around the law, compared to 71.4% of women.
- 61.2% of men supported suspending the law during emergencies, compared to 63.5% of women.
- 46.2% of men preferred ignoring the law, compared to 53.4% of women.
This suggests that women are more militant in their attitudes toward breaking the law, which was unexpected. Women, often victims of crime, may have reached a breaking point.
What Needs to Happen
Declining trust and support for the rule of law undermine the legitimacy of the government. Even the courts, which have traditionally been seen as a beacon of legitimacy, now face close to 50% “no trust” levels.
A major issue is that citizens do not distinguish between institutions (diffuse support) and incumbents (specific support). Corrupt officials damage trust in institutions like the police, parliament, and political parties.
A decline in specific support affects diffuse support, which is the reservoir of goodwill toward institutions. When corruption is not addressed, it leads to erosion of trust in institutions.
Political trust and support for the rule of law are vital in democracies to maintain stability and prevent citizens from turning to alternative methods such as protests or political violence to express their demands.
