Abstract
This study examines the association of institutional trust with citizen participation in Benin, based on data from the Afrobarometer Round 10 (2024) survey. The results show that trust in the judiciary is positively associated with certain forms of engagement, particularly dialogue with local elected officials and participation in protests. In contrast, trust in the executive is negatively associated with media contact and protest participation, while trust in Parliament is positively associated with protest participation. Predicted probabilities further confirm these patterns, indicating substantial differences in participation depending on levels of institutional trust, particularly for protest, media contact, and dialogue with local representatives. Additionally, socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, and access to technology are associated with these patterns, underscoring the importance of the social context and available resources for participation. These findings contribute to debates on multidimensional institutional trust and civic engagement in emerging democracies and suggest that disaggregating trust by institution is essential for understanding its varied associations with different forms of participation.
