“Myth of the Postcommunist Citizen: Communist Legacies and Political Trust”
Brad Epperly
Social Science History, 2019
Abstract: In assessing legacy-based explanations for the “trust deficit” observed in the post-communist region, I argue that one need first specify what kind of legacy is being considered: either between post-communist countries and another region, or among the post-communist states themselves. I further contend that the most valid reference for legacies is Western Europe, not the globe. Using data from the European Social Survey (2002–2010), I examine the association between sociodemographic factors and political trust in Eastern and Western Europe, and communist legacy effects among post-communist states. Results answer the question of legacies with a strong negative: no evidence is found that communist legacies account for the trust deficit, and I examine four empirical implications instead suggesting this deficit is the result of poor institutional performance.
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