Coronavirus restrictions: fear is no substitute for trust

Can policymakers expect people to comply with official health restrictions out of fear rather than because they trust the government? Dr Ben Seyd asks in a piece for the Political Science Blog The Loop. 

Can policymakers expect people to comply with Covid Restrictions out of fear rather than trust? Dr Ben Seyd says the answer is no. Governments still need trust to motivate citizens to comply with important collective rules political trust. 

‘Many people have drawn a key lesson from the coronavirus crisis of the past two years – that it is deeply important for people to trust in public actors and institutions. Trust encourages people to comply with official rules and restrictions designed to reduce health risks, and stimulates uptake of recommended behaviours such as vaccination. But is trust as important as often claimed? ‘

Read the full piece here

Last updated