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. To quote Giulio Andreotti’s famous aphorism, ‘to think the worst is a sin, but you’re often right’. Our daily lives are peppered with News. And, sometimes, even of fake news, fake news. Overwhelmed by such 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. We begin to doubt the veracity of the facts or the explanation provided. We 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, rowdy 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 sentiment 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, Italians view institutions with detachment and that a sense of mistrust prevails, the findings nonetheless reveal some significant nuances and certain changes over time. Firstly, only two of the institutions listed receive a positive rating from the majority of respondents. The police (64.7 per cent) and President Mattarella (51.2 per cent) are the only institutions to exceed the 50 per cent threshold. Whilst the latter’s approval rating remains similar to last year’s (-0.7% compared with 2016), the former have further increased their lead (+5.0% compared with 2016). Although in different ways, both institutions respond to a demand for security and stability. With a process of transformation of our political system that has now lasted over twenty years – and remains unfinished – the President of the Republic represents a guarantee, a guardian of constitutional values: a figure of reference and a reminder of shared rules. The police, in the face of the insecurity caused by terrorist attacks and robberies, provide a fundamental safeguard. Above all, their image has changed over time. Not only is their public support growing, but they are also proving to be 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 participation in peacekeeping missions. It is interesting to note, however, that not all institutions involved in safeguarding and maintaining order receive the same level of appreciation. The judiciary, for example, ranks fourth in the list (39.8 per cent) and has seen a significant decline (-9.4 per cent) compared with 2016, followed by the State (27.9 per cent), although the latter has seen a rise in trust compared with last year (+8.5 per cent) and narrowly surpasses a symbolic institution such as the Church (26.0 per cent, which has also seen an increase compared with last year: +4.4 per cent). Thus, trust in those who protect us is placed in the police, and far less so in those who administer justice and in the State. A similar distinction can be seen in the political sphere. Apart from the Presidency of the Republic, there are no political institutions that enjoy a high level of approval amongst the majority of Italians. Although it enjoys a respectable 40.9 per cent approval rating, the EU ranks third. Consistently at the bottom of the rankings, and some way behind, are the Government (22.1 per cent, up 0.3 per cent on 2016) and Parliament (7.4 per cent, up 1.8 per cent on 2016). By aggregating the opinions expressed, it is possible to calculate a confidence index that identifies three profiles. The predominant group is made up of the ‘hesitant’ (48.5 per cent): these are people who express firm trust in certain institutions but are highly sceptical of others, thus creating a zero-sum game. It is interesting to note that this group has grown compared with last year (+11.2 per cent), thus indicating an improvement in the general climate. The second group consists of the ‘distrustful’ (44.1 per cent) and comprises those who harbour deep mistrust towards almost all institutions. This is a significant group, though it has declined compared with 2016 (-8.2%). By contrast, the ‘confident’ group (7.4 per cent), who place firm trust in almost all institutions, remains a small minority, with a proportion similar to that of 2016 (-3.0 per cent). Consequently, the population views institutions in a selective and polarised manner, centred on two main entities: the police and President Mattarella. They express a high level of trust in those who uphold law and order and those who safeguard the stability of the political system. This is a high level of trust and, as the trust index shows, it 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 generalised level of trust that extends across the entire institutional landscape. Above all, the political system continues to be ‘un-credible’.
Daniele Marini
Methodological note
Community Media Research carries out the LaST (Laboratory on Society and Territory) Survey, which was conducted nationwide from 6 to 12 April 2017 on a representative sample of the population resident in Italy, aged 18 and over. The methodological aspects and the survey were taken care of by the Questlab company. The total number of respondents was 1,655 (out of 14,103 contacts). The data analysis was reproportioned on the basis of gender, territory, age group, occupational status and educational qualification. The margin of error is +/-2.4%. The survey was carried out with a visual survey through the main social networks and with a random sample that could be reached with the CAWI and CATI systems. Full document on www.agcom.it e www.communitymediaresearch.it
