Fabrication of Political Trust in China: A List Experiment

• In Event: Political Attitudes and Citizenship in Greater China

Abstract

The consistently high level of political trust in Chinese society, especially the trust in the central government exceeding 93%, has long been a focal point in the study of political trust in China. However, the authenticity of such high levels of trust is questionable in the context of a non-democratic society. This paper, through a five-dimensional list experiment conducted in China, explores how societal expectations and political fear influence the public expression of political trust. The experiment reveals that political fear leads the public to conceal extreme distrust and exaggerate trust in the government, while the effect of societal expectations causes neutral views to be expressed as support. Additionally, false trust results in decreased tolerance for government policy errors, ultimately being detrimental to the long-term level of societal political trust. This study challenges traditional views, reveals the impact of political fear on the expression of political trust, and emphasizes the importance of addressing the fabrication of political trust in social surveys.

Authors

• Gang Wang, Wuhan University

• Kecheng Du, Wuhan University

• Liyun Wu, Norfolk State University