Political Engagement Research Group (POENG)

Civil Servants’ Trust in Citizens examines the trust that civil servants working in government ministries place in citizens. Trust is one of the key resources of public administration, as it reduces uncertainty, enables cooperation, and strengthens the legitimacy of democratic institutions. Research on public administration has primarily examined trust from the perspective of citizens, focusing on citizens’ trust in public authorities and institutions. However, trust is a reciprocal relationship, and public officials’ trust in citizens is also important for the effective functioning of public administration. The project provides essential knowledge about this relationship and the underlying factors that shape the development of trust.

Principal Investigator: Elina Kestilä-Kekkonen
Funder(s): Ministry of Finance

Dissatisfaction with politics and citizens’ political alienation have become key concerns in debates about the state of liberal democracies. However, everyday references to alienation often lack a clear definition, while its theoretical foundations and empirical measurement vary considerably. The research project reconceptualises political alienation by examining it not as a static condition but as a multidimensional process linked to both individual experiences and societal structures. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interview data from different social groups with a survey targeting these groups. Drawing on these data, the project develops new ways of conceptualising and measuring political alienation.

Principal Investigator: Mikko Poutanen
Funder(s): Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation

This project examines the role of media as either a barrier to or an enabler of political engagement and equal participation among young people belonging to linguistic minorities in Finland. It explores the significance of media for young people's political socialization, engagement, and participation both in general and specifically among the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland and young foreign-language-speaking immigrants. The project focuses on comparisons between Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking youth, while also including foreign-language-speaking young people in the analyses whenever possible. Based on the findings, conclusions can be drawn about the potential of media to support young people's development into democratic citizens, as well as the particular importance of media in one's native language for Swedish-speaking youth in Finland.

Principal Investigator: Venla Hannuksela
Funder(s): Brita Maria Renlund's Memorial Foundation

This project examines the regional differentiation of trust in public authorities in Finland during the 2010s and 2020s. It investigates the extent to which people's residential environments influence their trust in public institutions and their performance. Particular attention is paid to whether Eastern Finland has developed into a peripheral area of lower trust. The study focuses on trust in decision-making bodies, public administration, and education and healthcare systems at the national, regional, and municipal levels. It examines representative political institutions that exercise decision-making authority, as well as the institutions responsible for implementing their decisions. The focus is on institutions whose operating conditions are significantly shaped by public policy and that play a central role for municipalities and regions due to their societal importance. The project contributes to a broad understanding of how trust in public authorities, a key component of the Finnish welfare state and regional resilience, is structured across different population groups.

Principal Investigator: Jussi Westinen
Funder(s): Eevi and Eemil Tanninen Foundation

The project examines the regional differentiation of political engagement and, in particular, the position of Eastern Finland in a divided Finland. The project produces knowledge on whether regional differences in political engagement have widened during the 2000s and how Eastern Finland as a region relates to this development. For a long time, Eastern Finland has lagged behind Southern and Western Finland on many indicators (economy, employment, migration, etc.), and voter turnout rates have also diverged. The position of Eastern Finland has become even more challenging during the 2020s. Therefore, the project investigates whether these developments are also reflected in political engagement over time during the 2000s. Special attention is paid to external political efficacy, which measures citizens’ perceptions of whether the political system is responsive to their wishes. The study is linked to the concept of left-behind areas: some regions lag behind others not only in structural indicators, but also experience concerns that the political elite has left them to their own devices.

Principal Investigator: Jussi Westinen
Funder(s): South Karelia Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation

This research compares the relationships and interactions between political parties and their candidates across different European countries and electoral systems. The dissertation examines the political supply generated jointly by parties and candidates, as well as independently by each. It develops new approaches to modelling political competition in contemporary democracies, where candidates and elected representatives largely dominate the public visibility of politics, while parties continue to shape its substantive policy content. The study seeks to clarify the relationship and accountability between parties and their candidates in the presentation of policy positions, issue priorities, campaign promises, and appeals to specific social groups. The project is scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Researcher: Topias Favorin

This study examines how citizens' trust in political institutions and in other people influences their behavior in crisis situations. It also investigates how citizens' civic knowledge and skills shape this relationship. The aim of the study is to understand what kinds of trust contribute to outcomes such as compliance with official guidelines and acting for the common good during crises. The findings will provide a deeper understanding of citizens' behavior in crisis situations and help build an increasingly resilient Finland.

Researcher: Maria Kekkonen
Funder(s): Olga and Vilho Linnamo Foundation; Otto A. Malm Donation Fund, Eino Jutikkala Fund

Research examines how Finnish politicians perceive and define their mandates and representative roles across different levels of government. Holding multiple elected offices simultaneously, known as multiple mandates or dual/multiple office-holding, is common in Finland and has raised concerns about the concentration of political power, role conflicts, and blurred lines of accountability. At the same time, the phenomenon is sustained by strong political incentives: despite often critical public attitudes, well-known and experienced candidates tend to perform successfully in elections, while the electoral and career strategies of both parties and politicians further encourage the accumulation of mandates. The study investigates how the roles, responsibilities, and interests associated with different levels of government may come into conflict when the same politicians serve simultaneously in multiple representative positions. By exploring these dynamics, the research provides broader insights into the functioning of Finland’s political system and generates knowledge that can inform political parties and other political actors.

Researcher: Pinja Niinivuori
Funder(s): The Foundation for Municipal Development (KAKS)