The evaluation of democratic performance from a comparative longitudinal perspective

Torcal, Mariano; Trechsel, Alexander H.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198883319.003.0008

The evaluation of democratic performance from a comparative longitudinal perspective

Citation

Torcal M, Trechsel AH. The evaluation of democratic performance from a comparative longitudinal perspective. In: Ferrín M, Kriesi H, editors. How Europeans view and evaluate democracy revisited. New York: Oxford University Press; 2025. p. 179-205. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198883319.003.0008

Abstract

This chapter examines how European citizens’ evaluations of different democracy models have evolved from 2012 to 2022, a period of significant economic, social, and political change. Building on the authors’ previous work on this topic, published in 2016, they once more focus on predictors of citizens’ evaluations of liberal, social, and direct models of democracy. The analysis shows a shifting pattern, with evaluations of liberal and social democracy becoming increasingly dependent on trust in political institutions and the impact of electoral defeats. These changes are linked to the influence of populist values and rising affective polarization. Overall, while support for democracy models remains stable, evaluations are more strongly influenced by political factors than before.