Personal and the Political : How Personal Welfare State Experiences Affect Politcal Trust and Ideology

In this close examination of the interplay between welfare state institutions and the evolution of public opinion, Kumlin advances understanding of how and why support for or opposition to the welfare state develops. Kumlin’s theoretical framework incorporates insights from a multitude of research traditions--including research on voting behavior, social psychology, rational choice theory, political psychology, and institutional theory. The theoretical contribution is matched by a close examination of surveys of trust in government and support for democracy measures showing that people’s views are constructed and influenced by their experiences with and assessments of public services and welfare state provisions--including health services, schools, transportation, and income programs like pensions, student aid, and unemployment insurance. This book will be valuable to political scientists and sociologists studying public opinion, political participation, and welfare state politics.