Political Attitudes, Social Justice, and Democracy in Times of Crisis

In contexts of economic crisis, shifts in value systems (Sorokin, 1991) and political attitudes are likely to emerge. The 2007 financial crisis, for instance, introduced a trend of prioritizing economic security over ethical norms. During times of growth, strong expressions of social outrage about corruption, the functioning of the system, and political disregard for public concerns are less likely to develop. However, in moments of crisis:
• corruption becomes perceived as a social injustice, fuelling widespread anger (Fiske & Tetlock, 1997; Zechmeister & Zizumbo-Colunga, 2013; Doorn et al., 2014; Jimenez, 2019);
• legitimacy toward the political system weakens (Torcal, 2019);
• disaffection with politics and politicians rises (Megías, 2020);
• confidence in political institutions erodes (Montero & Torcal, 2006; Torcal, 2019).
The current crises—stemming not only from ongoing armed conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine but also from multiple economic and social stresses within Western nations—add a new dimension to these concerns. This call for papers invites theoretical and empirical contributions that explore the impact of these intersecting crises on democratic values, political attitudes, and perceptions of social justice.
We welcome submissions that address:
1. How ongoing conflicts, economic challenges, and social upheavals influence citizens' ethical norms and perceptions of justice in Western contexts.
2. The effects of multiple crises on citizen engagement, public trust, and support for democratic institutions.
3. Prospective analyses of how current crises might alter democratic values, political trust, and long-term attitudes towards democracy.
We therefore welcome all those proposals which, with updated data, contrast diachronically or in comparative perspective, contribute new techniques and methods to the study of these attitudes allowing us to discuss and develop diagnoses and proposals on this issue.
With these diverse and converging crises posing potential threats to democratic systems in the West, this call seeks research that interprets the present while offering insights into how these dynamics may reshape democratic governance in the years to come.