Open Access
Article
SciPap-1210
Relationship Between Citizens’ Trust in Local Government and Participation in Local Governance
by
Diana Šaparnienė 1,* 
, Iveta Reinholde 2 and Sandra Rinkevičienė 3
1 Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Art, Vilnius University, Šiauliai Academy, Vilnius str. 88, Šiauliai 76285, Lithuania
2 Department of Political Sciences, University of Latvia, Lauvas str. 4, Riga LV-1019, Latvia
3 Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Art, Vilnius University, Šiauliai Academy, Vilnius str. 88, Šiauliai 76285, Lithuania
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract: The article analyses the relationship between citizens’ trust in local government institutions and participation in local governance. The research results have revealed that citizens’ trust in local government is still low and participation lacks activeness. Civic participation is more active than political participation. According to the research results, the main reasons of absence of participation in local governance are lack of information and knowledge about public participation, lack of information about participation opportunities, lack of communication and response to expressed opinion and suggestions. The results of quantitative research showed that participation and trust dimensions are related. Absence of clear communication and response to citizens expressed opinion and suggestions causes distrust and lower participation. However, the research revealed the weak relationship between the trust in local government and participation in local governance. This fact requires further research.
Keywords: Local Government, Citizens’ Trust, Citizens’ Political And Civic Participation, Local Governance, Democracy
JEL classification: H83 - Public Administration • Public Sector Accounting and Audits
Received: 7 December 2020 / Revised: 20 April 2021 / Accepted: 21 April 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021
