Trust is an increasingly elusive element in our lives: it cannot be taken for granted. To quote Giulio Andreotti, ‘to think the worst is a sin, but often you’re spot on’. Thus, doubt and prejudice are two traits that often characterise our attitudes towards events. And they shape our judgements, regardless of the objectivity of the facts. It is as though we have developed ‘antibodies’ that make us doubt and mistrust our surroundings, no matter what. Our daily lives are peppered with News. And, sometimes, even of fake news, fake news. Overwhelmed by an avalanche of information, we are inevitably (and unconsciously) driven to erect a sort of defensive barrier, which leads us to distance ourselves from becoming overly involved. To doubt the veracity of the facts or the explanation provided. To categorise them with a preconceived judgement, in fact. This attitude is not unique to our era, but it is certainly increasing and spreading more rapidly due to the proliferation of new communication technologies. The web and social media constantly bounce news and information back and forth, which we can access individually, in a process of bypassing (nowadays we say ‘disintermediation’) the traditional channels that previously filtered and selected content in some way: family, associations, newspapers, authoritative figures… If we add to these new technologies the vast number of exposé programmes, shrill talk shows and the use of social media as an outlet for venting, we can see how the collective imagination is dominated by an excessive degree of defeatism.
Thus, inevitably, the groundwork is laid for undermining one of the fundamental aspects of social cohesion: generalised trust – in our neighbours, in the community to which we belong, and in the institutions that govern us. To the extent that today, a sense of distrust seems to prevail – and not just towards politics. The public’s attitude towards certain institutions, and how this has changed over time, is the subject of the latest survey by Community Media Research. Whilst there is no doubt that, in general, people in the north-east view institutions with detachment and that a higher level of mistrust prevails there than at national level, the findings nonetheless reveal some significant nuances and certain changes over time.
Firstly, only the police (59.6 per cent) exceed the 50 per cent threshold, with approval ratings reaching 69.2 per cent in Trentino-Alto Adige. In the face of the insecurity caused by terrorist attacks and robberies, they provide a vital safeguard. Above all, their image has changed over time. Not only has their popularity grown, but they have also emerged as a stabilising force within the social fabric: one need only think of their protective role in cities, their support for communities affected by natural disasters, or their involvement in peacekeeping missions. In second place, some way behind, are two institutions linked to the political sphere: the EU (41.8 per cent) and President Mattarella (40.0 per cent). Although in different ways, both entities respond to a need for assurance and the safeguarding of civic values: a call for shared rules. However, there are very different trends across the three regions. In Trentino-Alto Adige, trust in the EU (82.2 per cent) and the President of the Republic (89.9 per cent) is very high, whereas the same cannot be said for Friuli-Venezia Giulia (54.8 per cent and 40.6 per cent respectively) and even less so in Veneto (33.8 per cent and 33.7 per cent). It is interesting to note, however, that not all institutions associated with the role of safeguarding and upholding law and order receive the same level of approval. The judiciary, for example, ranks fourth in the list (35.2 per cent), enjoying a high level of trust in Trentino-Alto Adige (74.5 per cent) and in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (61.3 per cent), whilst it stands at 28.8 per cent in Veneto. A similar regional pattern can be observed for the State (23.4 per cent). In other words, on the one hand, the inhabitants of the two autonomous regions (Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia) generally express a higher regard for and trust in the institutions; on the other hand, the people of Veneto appear more disillusioned and disaffected. Finally, consistently at the bottom of the ranking, and well behind the rest, we find the Government (15.7 per cent) and Parliament (7.7 per cent). Thus, trust in those who protect us is placed in the police, rather than in those who administer justice or the State. A similar distinction can be observed in the political sphere. Apart from the EU and the Presidency of the Republic, there are no political institutions that enjoy a high level of approval amongst the majority of people in the north-east. By aggregating the opinions expressed, it is possible to calculate a trust index that identifies three distinct groups. The largest group is made up of the ‘distrustful’ (49.0 per cent): these are the people who express deep mistrust towards almost all institutions. This sentiment has declined slightly compared with 2016 (51.8 per cent) and is particularly widespread in Veneto (55.9 per cent). The second group comprises a slightly smaller proportion: the ‘hesitant’ (45.3 per cent). They express firm trust in some institutions but are highly sceptical of others, thus resulting in a zero-sum game. It is interesting to note that this group has grown compared with last year (+5.0%), indicating an improvement in the general climate, particularly in Trentino-Alto Adige (87.5%). By contrast, the group of ‘confident’ individuals (5.7 per cent), who place firm trust in almost all institutions, remains a small minority; this proportion is similar to that of 2016 (-1.8 per cent), and slightly more prevalent in Friuli Venezia Giulia (12.9%). Thus, the population views institutions in a selective and polarised manner, centred on two main entities: the police, on the one hand, and the EU and President Mattarella, on the other. They express a high level of trust in those who uphold law and order and those who safeguard the stability of the political system. And, as the trust index shows, this has, on average, risen slightly compared with last year – plausibly the result of a less tense climate in economic and consumer terms. However, this is not a widespread trust that extends across the entire institutional landscape. Above all, the political system continues to be ‘un-credible’.
- Finegil newspapers, 2 June 2017
- il Piccolo, 2 June 2017
- Messaggero Veneto, 2 June 2017
- Trentino, 10 June 2017
- South Tyrol, 10 June 2017
Daniele Marini
Methodological note
Community Media Research carried out the survey, which took place nationwide from 6 to 12 April 2017 on a representative sample of the resident population in Italy aged over 18. The methodological aspects and data collection were handled by Questlab. There were a total of 1,655 respondents (out of 14,103 contacts). The data analysis was re-weighted according to gender, region, age group, employment status and educational qualification. The margin of error is +/-2.4%. The survey was conducted via a visual survey on the main social media platforms and using a random sample reached via CAWI and CATI systems. Full report available at www.agcom.it e www.communitymediaresearch.it
