EXPLORING THE ROLE OF PUBLIC TRUST IN PREVENTING SOCIETAL RADICALIZATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE DANISH MODEL
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF PUBLIC TRUST IN PREVENTING SOCIETAL RADICALIZATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE DANISH MODEL

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the role of public trust as a potential mechanism for preventing societal radicalization, with a particular focus on the national Danish model for preventing radicalization and violet extremism. The present study employs an instrumental case study methodology selected because the research question concerns a complex, context-dependent phenomenon that cannot be meaningfully examined through variable-based quantitative approaches alone. Denmark was chosen as the unit of analysis on the grounds that it represents a paradigmatic case of institutionalized trust based prevention, offering theoretically transferable insights for low-trust societies. Data were drawn from policy documents, academic literature, and comparative institutional analyses, and were examined through a qualitative thematic framework linking trust,social cohesion, and radicalization prevention. Public trust—defined as citizens’ confidence in governmental and public institutions—has been increasingly recognized as a key factor in fostering social cohesion and resilience against extremist ideologies. By exploring the relationship between public trust, social cohesion and the processes that contribute to radicalization, this article aims to investigate whether promoting greater trust in the public sphere can serve as an effective preventive measure against social radicalization, polarization and violent extremism in low trust societies. In this context, the aim of the article is to analyze whether there are any lessons to be learned from high trust societies in order to address the socio-political factors that favor the emergence of radical ideologies and behaviors in societies with low trust, such as Romania.

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