How Citizen Participation Facilitates Trust in Public Institutions: A Cross-National Analysis of South Asia

Chaminda Wijethilake; Danson Kimani; Teerooven Soobaroyen

doi:10.54094/b-d2aafcd859

How Citizen Participation Facilitates Trust in Public Institutions: A Cross-National Analysis of South Asia

Chaminda Wijethilake^*
, Danson Kimani
, Teerooven Soobaroyen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference output › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

We examine how citizen participation in public protests, public voting, official engagements, and political participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and trust in public institutions in South Asia. Drawing on the South Asian Barometer Survey, we propose that in countries with mature democracies, citizen participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and trust in public institutions more strongly compared to late democratic adopters. Contrary to our expectations, perceived public service quality shows a significant negative impact on trust in public institutions in both mature and late democratic adopters in South Asia. We demonstrate that in countries with mature democracies, citizen participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and public trust in public institutions more strongly compared to late democratic adopters. Policymakers and practitioners should consider the contextual differences that influence citizens’ participation as a means of enhancing trust in public institutions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Political Participation: Citizen Input in Government
Editors	James Cockerham, Alexandra Cockerham
Chapter	7
ISBN (Electronic)	9798881904418
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.54094/b-d2aafcd859
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2026

Bibliographical note

This is a draft version of a chapter in the book, Contemporary Political Participation and its Countervailing Effects on Civic Culture, edited by James Cockerham & Alexandra Cockerham published in 2026 by Vernon Press, link: https://vernonpress.com/book/2554

Keywords

Citizen participation
Perceived public service quality
Trust in public institutions
South Asia

Access to Document

10.54094/b-d2aafcd859

Chapter 7 Wijethilake_ Accepted Chapter; 7 Oct 2025
This is a draft version of a chapter in the book, Contemporary Political Participation and its Countervailing Effects on Civic Culture, edited by James Cockerham & Alexandra Cockerham published in 2026 by Vernon Press, link: https://vernonpress.com/book/2554
Accepted author manuscript, 534 KBLicence: Unspecified

https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/232641/

Cite this

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abstract = "We examine how citizen participation in public protests, public voting, official engagements, and political participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and trust in public institutions in South Asia. Drawing on the South Asian Barometer Survey, we propose that in countries with mature democracies, citizen participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and trust in public institutions more strongly compared to late democratic adopters. Contrary to our expectations, perceived public service quality shows a significant negative impact on trust in public institutions in both mature and late democratic adopters in South Asia. We demonstrate that in countries with mature democracies, citizen participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and public trust in public institutions more strongly compared to late democratic adopters. Policymakers and practitioners should consider the contextual differences that influence citizens{\textquoteright} participation as a means of enhancing trust in public institutions.",

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How Citizen Participation Facilitates Trust in Public Institutions: A Cross-National Analysis of South Asia. / Wijethilake, Chaminda; Kimani, Danson; Soobaroyen, Teerooven.
Political Participation: Citizen Input in Government. ed. / James Cockerham; Alexandra Cockerham. 2026.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference output › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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AB - We examine how citizen participation in public protests, public voting, official engagements, and political participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and trust in public institutions in South Asia. Drawing on the South Asian Barometer Survey, we propose that in countries with mature democracies, citizen participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and trust in public institutions more strongly compared to late democratic adopters. Contrary to our expectations, perceived public service quality shows a significant negative impact on trust in public institutions in both mature and late democratic adopters in South Asia. We demonstrate that in countries with mature democracies, citizen participation moderates the relationship between perceived public service quality and public trust in public institutions more strongly compared to late democratic adopters. Policymakers and practitioners should consider the contextual differences that influence citizens’ participation as a means of enhancing trust in public institutions.

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How Citizen Participation Facilitates Trust in Public Institutions: A Cross-National Analysis of South Asia

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