Desires of technocracy in pandemic times: A multilevel study

Objectives We aimed to predict the favor for a technocratic government in the context of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Method We tested a multilevel mediated moderated model on the ResPOnsE COVID‐19 data set (rolling cross‐section design, quota sample of the Italian adult population, N = 8210, data colle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science quarterly 2023-05, Vol.104 (3), p.195-201
Main Authors: Cena, Lorenzo, Roccato, Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
COVID-19
Data collection
Democracy
Government
Legislatures
Pandemics
Political institutions
Representative democracy
Technocracy
Trust
trust in science
vulnerability
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Summary:Objectives We aimed to predict the favor for a technocratic government in the context of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Method We tested a multilevel mediated moderated model on the ResPOnsE COVID‐19 data set (rolling cross‐section design, quota sample of the Italian adult population, N = 8210, data collected from March 17 to June 16, 2021). Results Subjective vulnerability to COVID‐19 showed a positive relationship with trust in science and scientists, which, in turn, had a positive relationship with favor for a technocratic government, particularly among participants who had low trust in the Italian Parliament. The prevalence of COVID‐19 (measured at Level‐2, with data nested by day of data collection) also showed a positive association with favor for a technocratic government. Conclusion The COVID‐19 pandemic may have jeopardized representative democracy The objective and subjective threats it triggered favor trust in science and scientists that, when combined with a low level of trust toward political institutions, fosters the desire for a technocratic government.
ISSN:0038-4941
1540-6237
DOI:10.1111/ssqu.13254