The Role of Social Trust and Political Efficacy in Increasing Political Participation in Multi-ethnic Communities
Keywords:
Political participation, social trust, political effectiveness, ethnicity, GachsaranAbstract
This study aims to examine the role of social trust and political efficacy in enhancing political participation among citizens in the multi-ethnic community of Gachsaran County. This research adopted a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) design. The statistical population consisted of citizens of Gachsaran, from which a sample of 382 participants was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires measuring social trust, political efficacy, ethnic policies, and political participation using a five-point Likert scale. Validity and reliability were confirmed. Data analysis was conducted at descriptive and inferential levels using Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis. The results indicated that political efficacy has a positive and significant relationship with political participation (r=0.363, p<0.001) and serves as the strongest direct predictor. Social trust did not show a significant direct relationship with political participation; however, it exerted a significant indirect effect through political efficacy. Similarly, ethnic policies did not have a significant direct effect but influenced political participation indirectly via political efficacy. Among the dimensions of political efficacy, political duty orientation and the ability for political competition exhibited the strongest correlations with political participation. The findings highlight the central role of political efficacy in explaining political participation in multi-ethnic societies. Social trust and ethnic policies primarily operate through strengthening political efficacy. Therefore, policy interventions should focus on enhancing citizens’ sense of political efficacy and fostering social trust to promote higher levels of political participation.
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