“Sizce, insanların çoğuna güvenilir mi?” Türkiye’de Genelleştirilmiş Güven Üzerine Ampirik Bir Analiz

Generalized trust is a cultural attitude about the general optimism and faith in the good will of people at large. Studies show that citizens are more open to cooperation, and they are more active in political and social life in high trust societies. Generalized trust is low in Turkey. Only ten people out of a hundred, on average, think that most people can be trusted. The objective of the present study is to discuss the relationship between modernization and generalized trust in detail and to analyze Turkey as a case study within this conceptual framework. The study utilizes World Valued Survey’s (WWS) sixth wave Turkey data (2010-2014) for the analysis. In line with the empirical analyses conducted mostly across institutionalized democracies on generalized trust, the present study shows the relevance of individuality and personal autonomy for the Turkish case as well, which has had a different modernization trajectory. The study also provides insights into the relationship between confidence in political institutions and generalized trust. Last but not the least, findings show significant differences in generalized trust levels across Turkey’s regions