Political Alienation: Behavioral Implications of Efficacy and Trust in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

Priscilla Southwell

doi:10.5539/res.v4n2p71

Abstract

This research centers on three dimensions of political alienation – internal efficacy, external efficacy, and political trust. Multivariate analysis of the demographic determinants of political efficacy and trust suggests that females, blacks, and latinos were more like to exhibit feelings of internal and external efficacy, but trust is significantly higher only among the well-educated and strong partisans. We then examined the behavioral implications of these attitudes on voter turnout and candidate preference in the 2008 presidential election. Logit analysis of the 2008-2009 American National Election Study data suggests that internal efficacy increases turnout while external efficacy and trust are insignificant. With regard to candidate preference, those individuals exhibiting internal and external efficacy were more likely to vote for Barack Obama, while trust was insignificant.

Highlights

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Americans became less attached to the two major political parties, more cynical about elected officials and political institutions, and less confident in their own abilities to influence the political system
Using three indices of the most common attitudinal measures from the American National Election Study for trust, government responsiveness, and political efficacy, this figure suggests that Americans have become more trusting and more efficacious in recent years
We address the behavioral consequences of political trust and efficacy on voter turnout and candidate choice

Summary

Introduction

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Americans became less attached to the two major political parties, more cynical about elected officials and political institutions, and less confident in their own abilities to influence the political system Such attitudes have become less prevalent in the last decade, as indicated by Figure 1. Democratic Party, primarily directed at blacks, latinos and young persons was effective in both getting such persons to register and vote for the Obama/Biden ticket (Avery, 2006, 2009; Nagourney, 2008) This effect of growing trust and efficacy, combined with voter mobilization, would represents a sea change from the disillusionment (and lower turnout) of earlier decades. Did his candidacy alter the political landscape such that “outsiders” became more hopeful and participatory?

The Concept of Alienation

Demographic Determinants of Political Alienation

The Consequences of Political Alienation

Summary and Conclusions