Societal trust and nation-thinking in the midst of a pandemic – Central Europe and Scandinavia

Abstract

Trust in those who lead the government, trust in the way society is ordered, and trust in other people can all influence how individuals perceive the country in which they live. This study examines the different facets of societal trust (the complex network of state, political, national and social trust) in four European countries – Norway, Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – and connects these with how people understand their society to be organized, especially the degree to which the national frame is relevant. The results presented from these four countries offer a more nuanced picture of what it means to have trust in government and institutions and what it means to have trust in those who inhabit one’s country, especially in a time of crisis. The main data sources are identical surveys in four languages.