Lustration systems and trust : evidence from survey experiments in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

The American Journal of Sociology

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Volume

117

Issue

4

First Page

1172

Last Page

1201

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

Abstract

Dealing with personnel inherited from prior regimes in the administration of transitional states is critical for democratic consolidation, a problem traditionally addressed by the dichotomy of continuation or dismissal. However, major organizational innovations to deal with tainted officials appear in postcommunist Central Europe. Using the concept of lustration systems, this study differentiates three archetypes: dismissal, exposure, and confession. The authors propose that each system carries different symbolic meanings, which produce different outcomes for citizens’ trust in government and in tainted officials. The hypothesized effects of different lustration systems on trust are tested by an experiment embedded in nationwide representative surveys conducted in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The results show that dismissal and confession increase citizens’ trust in government and trust in tainted officials. However, exposure reduces citizens’ trust in tainted officials.

DOI

10.1086/662648

Print ISSN

00029602

E-ISSN

15375390

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2012 The University of Chicago

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Choi, S. Y. P., & Roman David. (2012). Lustration systems and trust: Evidence from survey experiments in the Czech republic, Hungary, and Poland. The American Journal of Sociology, 117(4), 1172-1201. doi: 10.1086/662648

Share

COinS