The Impact of Trust and Satisfaction on Citizen Engagement in Local Government

Trust is among the factors affecting the reasons for existence of local government as well as in all public institutions as the basis of a legitimate appearance and a healthy democratic structure. Trust is essential to the success of a wide variety of public policies based on the behavioral responses of the public. This research shows how, under certain conditions, there is a relationship between individuals' trust in local governments and civic engagement. In this context, the study presents the relationship between trust in local governments and participation in local decision-making mechanisms with an empirical analysis in the city of Ankara (Turkey). A large part of the population is involved in democratic participation mechanisms if they trust local government. Just like political trust, trust in local government plays an important role in the development of the democratic structure, apart from other existing effects. The study measures citizens' trust in local governments and their active participation in decision-making mechanisms voluntarily in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, through subjective evaluations.