Entrusted power in polarized societies

Abstract:

Although this field of research is far from having a universally accepted definition, most corruption researchers use a definition according to which corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private or partisan gain. While the concept of abuse is a particularly debated topic in this field, we also consider the concept of entrusted power to be controversial. This is particularly the case in societies fragmented by violent conflicts or ethnic tensions. However, it can also occur in increasingly polarised societies with pronounced social divisions. One of the key questions here is how a lack of trust in political opponents and office holders impacts the perception of their legitimacy and accountability. We therefore intend to examine the extent to which the perception of corruption is explained by situations involving high levels of polarisation, and how this interacts with trust in political office holders and institutions at a micro level.