Abstract
This paper investigates the complex relationship between transparency and trust. If trust in government is most of the time regarded as a positive effect of transparency, it should also be considered as a factor influencing citizens’ perceptions of transparency, and not only as a result of transparency measures. Moreover, the principles underpinning transparency policies, especially accountability and trust, have not been widely tested empirically yet. This article proposes some paths of research regarding the effect of administrative transparency on citizens’ trust in government in the Swiss context.
Highlights
Transparency is considered as a moral imperative in all democratic systems
It has been developed as a norm of governance in both public and private sectors, as shown by the recent scandals in public administrations and private entities
Requests and appeals have been used parsimoniously. This observation leads us to question the common statement about the positive correlation between transparency and trust in government
Summary
Transparency is considered as a moral imperative in all democratic systems. It has been developed as a norm of governance in both public and private sectors, as shown by the recent scandals in public administrations and private entities (e.g. the French Minister Cahuzac who lied about the existence of an account in Switzerland, horse meat scandal, the clandestine surveillance program of the United States National Security Agency). Supporters of transparency reforms often claim that corruption will be reduced. They argue that administrations will be more efficient. This article is based on this last assumption and will examine the complex relationship between transparency and trust in government. It will show that there is no parallel evolution in the Swiss case and propose a hypothesis for Switzerland, mainly based on historical and institutional aspects
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