Trust in and Compliance with Authority Directives: Evidence from Africa

• In Event: Advancing Legitimacy Theory VIII

Abstract

Trust in authorities and compliance with their directives are essential to social order. Research on the factors that influence people to trust criminal justice authorities and comply with government laws across the African continent is scarce. The current study addresses these voids in two parts. Part one examines factors associated with trust in police officers and courts across thirty-two African countries. Part two examines factors associated with compliance with the likelihood of getting a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic in twelve African countries. We employ data from the Afrobarometer social survey that comprises information on relevant social factors across thirty-four African countries to estimate a series of logistic regression models. In part one, performance, feelings of insecurity, interactional injustice, and the corruption level were associated with trust in police officers and courts. In part two, support for COVID-19 emergency measures, trust in government handling of information and records, and corruption level were associated with the likelihood of getting vaccinated. The study provides preliminary evidence on common factors that may influence trust in criminal justice authorities and offers suggestions on how governments can increase compliance with health emergency measures during global pandemics.

Authors

• Dennis Sarpong, Arizona State University

• Daniel Tei, Arizona State University

• Priscilla Owiredu, Arizona State University

• Danielle Wallace, Arizona State University