Understanding Governance in South Asia

Does Trust Matter? An Inquiry on Citizens’ Trust in Public Institutions of Sri Lanka

“…Citizen trust in public institutions is an indication of successful governance and it has often been viewed as an important element of good governance. Social science scholars and practitioners as well as citizens and reformers consider trust as a necessary goal as well as a means of effective administration (Ariely, 2013; Choudhury, 2008; Christensen & Laegreid, 2003; Fukuyama, 1995; Jamil & Askvik, 2013; Kim, 2005; Naseer, 2010; Putnam, 1993; Van de Walle & Bouckaert, 2003, 2006). Trust has long been an important element of government performance (Putnam, 1993, p. 170).…”

“…Trust is the gateway to successful relationship and an important element of an institution, which in turn influences the actions of those involved in it (Barlett, 1994, cited in Huemer, Krogh, & Roos 1998, p. 123; Jamil & Askvik, 2013). There are many types of trust: disposition trust, interpersonal trust and institutional trust.…”

“…In this study, we focus on institutional trust, which emphasizes more on fairness, justness, effectiveness and inclusiveness of public institutions (Rothstein & Stolle, 2003, p. 6). It also refers to citizen confidence on incumbents of public offices based on how they perform their tasks according to norms, rules and regulations—to what extent public officials are accessible, helpful, friendly and responsive to citizen’s needs, demands and aspirations and how they are fulfilled (Sztompka, 1999, cited in Jamil & Askvik, 2013, p. 153). Institutional trust emphasizes more on people’s beliefs about protective institutions in a country and those who are involved in it (Huemer et al, 1998).…”

“…Citizen trust in public institutions also denotes the level of confidence in incumbents of public officers based on how they perform their task according to institutional rules, norms and regulations (Jamil & Askvik, 2013, p. 153). In multiethnic countries, citizens’ trust in government largely depends on inclusion, equality and equity.…”

Introduction: Governance in South, Southeast, and East Asia

“…On the other hand, governance in South Asia has been varied; some countries are managing better than others in terms of steady economic growth, ensuring human security and safety, and political stability. Others are lagging in ensuring and maintaining the basic tenets of democracy, despite the fact that most of these countries have adopted democracy as the form of governance (Jamil et al 2013). Some South Asian countries are so beset with internal conflicts and confrontations amongst various groups and political parties that they may be termed as 'weak' or even 'failed states'.…”