"Trust" Effect On Middle Class Political Participation

It is significant to understand the deviation between political consciousness and political participation. There are three factors potentially causing this deviation which are related to three kinds of Trust. The quantitative analysis based on Parsons Social Capital Theory and CGSS2010 data.For the Chinese middle class, the degree of political participation is very low; compared to the degree of political participation consciousness which is very high. After standardizing the degree of political behavior and consciousness, the data shows that the consciousness has 52% higher than behavior on average.For Institutional Trust, Chinese middle class have strong subjective political capability while they barely join political affairs. Because they do not feel capability of making change, while they have political knowledge and consciousness, they do not participate in politics. In addition, Political Intelligence Factor has no affection on deviation, indicating that the key factor on deviation is middle class political influence, not their capability.For Social Trust, Chinese middle class have high score in Common Social Trust which is benefit for development of civil culture. Although there exist "Pattern of Difference Sequence", but Special Trust Factor has no significant effect on deviation. Meanwhile, Religious Trust has a positive effect on deviation, which means the higher trust in religion results in greater deviation, and less behavior.In Political Trust, both the Government Institutional Trust Factor and the Politicians Trust Factor have significant impact on deviation, both negative, indicating that the higher Political Trust, the smaller deviation. With high political consciousness, middle class is more likely to participate in politics."Trust" will help promote political democratization in China, including Social Trust, Political Trust and Institutional Trust, most critically is Political Trust. Middle Class lack of Social Trust, Political Trust and Institutional Trust result in low political participation. "Trust" is very important for promotion of China civil culture, in strengthening middle class political participation.