This open access book explains why representative democracies need political trust and legitimacy: Political trust is a crucial yet underestimated element in Europe’s representative democracies. A trusting relationship between citizens and the institutions of the state ensures the functioning of democratic systems, reduces transaction costs and facilitates the justification of political decisions. Without the commitment of a critical mass, democratic governments cannot gain legitimacy among the populace. While a stable relationship of trust between citizens and the state through political parties is a prerequisite for representative democracies in normal times, it is even more important in times of significant democratic change and turmoil, i.e., when democracies are in flux. Accordingly, the contributions gathered here examine political trust and legitimacy in Europe using a new conceptual framework – the ActEU conceptual triangle, which draws on citizens’ political attitudes, their political participation, and the representation of their political preferences to map and assess the decline of political trust and legitimacy in Europe.

Dr. Michael Kaeding is the Jean Monnet Professor for European Integration and European Union Politics at the Institute of Political Science, University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany). He is also Director of Studies at the Department of European Political and Governance Studies, part of the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium), a Visiting Fellow of the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht (the Netherlands), and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Dr. Daniela Braun is a Professor of Political Science with a focus on European Integration and International Relations at Saarland University in Saarbrücken (Germany). 

Dr. Kristina Weissenbach is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Science, and Research Coordinator at the NRW School of Governance, at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany). She is also an Affiliate Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington in Seattle (USA).

Dr. Zoe Lefkofridi is a Professor for Politics & Gender, Diversity & Equality at the Department of Political Science, University of Salzburg (Austria). 

Dr. Alex Hartland is a postdoctoral researcher with a focus on European Integration and International Relations at the Department of Political Science, Saarland University in Saarbrücken (Germany).