In God we trust…and Caesar too? Evaluating the link between religiosity and trust in government

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to establish that religiosity has a positive link with government trust, making the secularization trend all the more likely to further erode this already fragile resource.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the use of data from the World Values Survey and European Social Survey the link between religiosity and trust in government is examined.

Findings

Religiosity and trust in government are positively linked in aggregate data.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is based on aggregated data, not individual countries, and religiosity is a complex concept to measure.

Practical implications

Secularization will have a long-term negative effect on government trust. Low levels of trust in government in the West are likely here to stay, or even worsen, as populations continue to secularize.

Social implications

With less trust in government, it will be more difficult to govern effectively.

Originality/value

The author has not yet seen a full test on how secularization will impact trust in government. In fact, this study makes clear that the trend goes a long way explaining why trust in government has been falling in the developed world for decades.

Citation

Creel, N. (2022), "In God we trust…and Caesar too? Evaluating the link between religiosity and trust in government", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 42 No. 9/10, pp. 795-815. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-06-2021-0156