ABSTRACT
A thriving democracy requires a citizenry that supports democratic values and is supportive of the democratic order. This chapter discusses citizens’ attitudes that are relevant to a healthy democracy. Most citizens support civil liberties, at least in the abstract—almost all say they believe in free speech, for example. But many are less supportive when questioned about specific applications. Still, the historical trend is for increasing tolerance, and the divisions in society do not appear to be sufficiently severe to cause alarm. The chapter discusses the degree to which people have trust in politics. Trust has been in historical decline; the chapter discusses the possible causes and consequences. One concern is whether some people overvalue authoritarian politics at the expense of the democratic order. The concept and measurement of the “authoritarian personality” is discussed, along with the question of whether there exists a specific “democratic personality.” Finally, the chapter confronts a new question brought about by President Trump’s election. Does Trump’s unexpected success indicate a greater tendency toward intolerance or preference for an authoritarian leader than analysts had realized?
