Danish Exceptionalism: Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years

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Danish Exceptionalism : Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years. / Sønderskov, Kim Mannemar; Dinesen, Peter Thisted.

I: European Sociological Review, Bind 30, Nr. 6, 2014, s. 782-795.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

Harvard

Sønderskov, KM & Dinesen, PT 2014, 'Danish Exceptionalism: Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years', European Sociological Review, bind 30, nr. 6, s. 782-795. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcu073

APA

Sønderskov, K. M., & Dinesen, P. T. (2014). Danish Exceptionalism: Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years. European Sociological Review, 30(6), 782-795. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcu073

Vancouver

Sønderskov KM, Dinesen PT. Danish Exceptionalism: Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years. European Sociological Review. 2014;30(6):782-795. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcu073

Author

Sønderskov, Kim Mannemar ; Dinesen, Peter Thisted. / Danish Exceptionalism : Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years. I: European Sociological Review. 2014 ; Bind 30, Nr. 6. s. 782-795.

Bibtex

@article{4cbbe79497694346a16fb94daa918364,
title = "Danish Exceptionalism: Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years",
abstract = "Given the positive societal consequences of social trust and the exceptional high levels of trust found in the Nordic countries, there is a growing interest in the background for Nordic trust exceptionalism. Reflecting the debate about the roots of trust, the question is whether this exceptionalism has been a permanent feature of these societies, i.e., an enduring cultural trait, or primarily been shaped by more contemporary experiential forces. This article examines the roots of the present Nordic trust exceptionalism by means of analysing the development of trust in Denmark over the past three decades. The analysis shows that trust in Denmark has increased remarkably from 1979 to 2009, thus documenting that the high levels of trust found today are a relatively new phenomenon. This contradicts the cultural perspective and instead vindicates the experiential perspective on trust. Subsequent analyses based on longitudinal data at the aggregate level as well as individual-level cross-sectional and panel data indicate that the increase in trust in Denmark can be attributed to generational replacement, increasing levels of education, improved quality of state institutions, and a concomitant increase in citizens{\textquoteright} trust in these institutions. ",
author = "S{\o}nderskov, {Kim Mannemar} and Dinesen, {Peter Thisted}",
year = "2014",
doi = "10.1093/esr/jcu073",
language = "English",
volume = "30",
pages = "782--795",
journal = "European Sociological Review",
issn = "0266-7215",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
number = "6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Danish Exceptionalism

T2 - Explaining the Unique Increase in Social Trust over the Past 30 Years

AU - Sønderskov, Kim Mannemar

AU - Dinesen, Peter Thisted

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Given the positive societal consequences of social trust and the exceptional high levels of trust found in the Nordic countries, there is a growing interest in the background for Nordic trust exceptionalism. Reflecting the debate about the roots of trust, the question is whether this exceptionalism has been a permanent feature of these societies, i.e., an enduring cultural trait, or primarily been shaped by more contemporary experiential forces. This article examines the roots of the present Nordic trust exceptionalism by means of analysing the development of trust in Denmark over the past three decades. The analysis shows that trust in Denmark has increased remarkably from 1979 to 2009, thus documenting that the high levels of trust found today are a relatively new phenomenon. This contradicts the cultural perspective and instead vindicates the experiential perspective on trust. Subsequent analyses based on longitudinal data at the aggregate level as well as individual-level cross-sectional and panel data indicate that the increase in trust in Denmark can be attributed to generational replacement, increasing levels of education, improved quality of state institutions, and a concomitant increase in citizens’ trust in these institutions.

AB - Given the positive societal consequences of social trust and the exceptional high levels of trust found in the Nordic countries, there is a growing interest in the background for Nordic trust exceptionalism. Reflecting the debate about the roots of trust, the question is whether this exceptionalism has been a permanent feature of these societies, i.e., an enduring cultural trait, or primarily been shaped by more contemporary experiential forces. This article examines the roots of the present Nordic trust exceptionalism by means of analysing the development of trust in Denmark over the past three decades. The analysis shows that trust in Denmark has increased remarkably from 1979 to 2009, thus documenting that the high levels of trust found today are a relatively new phenomenon. This contradicts the cultural perspective and instead vindicates the experiential perspective on trust. Subsequent analyses based on longitudinal data at the aggregate level as well as individual-level cross-sectional and panel data indicate that the increase in trust in Denmark can be attributed to generational replacement, increasing levels of education, improved quality of state institutions, and a concomitant increase in citizens’ trust in these institutions.

U2 - 10.1093/esr/jcu073

DO - 10.1093/esr/jcu073

M3 - Journal article

VL - 30

SP - 782

EP - 795

JO - European Sociological Review

JF - European Sociological Review

SN - 0266-7215

IS - 6

ER -

ID: 120335956