How Corruption Influences Political Trust and Political Efficacy across Various Factors

Political trust and Political Efficacy are considered to be the key indicators of measuring the health of the democratic system. The positive growth of these parameters of general political attitude is an indication of popular trust and belief in the system and the stability and efficacious nature of our governments in responding to popular demands. On the contrary, its fall indicates powerlessness and cynicism among the people that can be instrumental in dismantling of established political order. In the present world order especially in developing countries like India, the phenomenon of corruption is one of the anomalies- a dysfunction- that threatens to wreck into shreds the very fabric of democratic system that we cherish with so much fervor and vigor. In the present empirical study the authors investigate the impact of corruption on these barometers of democratic health. A survey was conducted in the western region of the largest state of India, i.e. Uttar Pradesh. In all 500 samples were collected randomly under stratified sampling technique. Prior to interview survey questionnaire technique, five categories were made on the basis of people's income level, educational attainment, religious affinities, region- rural/ urban, sex and mass media exposure. The authors found that the corruption is inversely related to political trust and political efficacy. Wherever people are exposed to less corrupt practices, they have shown a greater degree of trust in the system and its efficacy in delivering goods to them. In instances where corruption is more prevalent- whether electoral related or otherwise- people are less forthcoming in showing interest in political participation.