A Multicoloured Grey: Trust, Neutrality, and the Erosion of Legitimacy A Mixed Methods Exploration of Anti-Institutionalism towards Dutch Police.

Abstract

Anti-institutional sentiment has been on a prominent rise for the last decade and is increasingly being recognised as a security threat. This phenomenon is accompanied by a sustained erosion of legitimacy, trust and perceived neutrality of established institutions and encompasses a spectrum of opposition, from philosophical skepticism to active social protest. This research focuses on the extent of anti-institutional sentiment towards the police institution and its underlying mechanisms. By employing a mixed methods approach using both quantitative and qualitative research data, it researches the conceptualisation of anti-institutionalism being a multifaceted phenomenon, driven by the questioning of legitimacy due to the factors perceived neutrality and trust. Quantitative findings reveal that while general trust in the Dutch police remains relatively high, significant skepticism persists regarding their perceived neutrality – an essential factor for institutional legitimacy. Qualitative data shows that anti-institutional sentiment is most visibly expressed during protests, where participants view the police not as neutral enforcers but as politically aligned actors. Across both methods, perceived neutrality emerged as the key driver of distrust. In order to formulate a strategic course of action for the police to play into the underlying effects of anti-institutionalism, this paper recommends a democratisation of the police by making use of citizen’s assemblies which would help inform citizen-led policies on how to interact with anti-institutional individuals during for example protests.