81 percent of Danes do not believe that society is getting better
At INVI, we conducted a new survey during the recent government formation process, which paints a bleak picture of the public’s faith in Danish politics. Only 19 percent of Danes believe that Danish society will be better off in ten years than it is today.
The think tank INVI has, for the second time, taken the pulse of Danes’ views on democracy. And the survey confirms a trend that should give politicians pause for thought.
"It is here, at the front door of democracy, that the political theater really comes into its own. This is where pithy soundbites are crafted, and where solutions are proclaimed with great conviction," says Sigge Winther, director of INVI. "But if you look beyond the press conferences and instead take the pulse of the Danish public, you discover a deep mistrust."
67 percent of Danes believe that political decisions rarely have the effect that politicians promise. And out of 12 policy areas—which we asked Danes about—defense against foreign powers is the only area where a majority believes the new government can actually succeed. In all other areas, from climate to health to education, the public’s expectations of the government’s ability to deliver are at an all-time low.
"Danes have lost faith in the idea that reforms actually work in practice. The question is no longer whether enough is being promised. It is whether there is a system and a method in place to ensure that what is adopted actually delivers the intended results."
The survey also reveals what Danes want from the new government. Climate, immigration, and healthcare are the three issues the public prioritizes most highly. Here, the political blocs differ clearly: the red bloc emphasizes climate and inequality, while the blue bloc prioritizes immigration and the economy. Women are more pessimistic than men, and older age groups are more pessimistic than younger ones.
"The fact that public optimism can be so low is by no means because Danes are suffering from a collective depression," says Sigge Winther. "It may rather be because they have seen through the system. They have realized that Christiansborg has a penchant for the front door, while the back door is actually left flapping in the wind."
Read INVI's study "Danes' Views on the Back Door to Democracy" here