We Trust Politicians if We Can See Them

This chapter investigates the impact of participation in deliberative activities on trust in political institutions, with a specific focus on the roles of politicians and experts in such settings. Using a comparative approach, the research draws on online deliberative polls about climate policies conducted in four countries (N = 359). The study experimentally varied the presence of politicians, experts, or both across different deliberative groups. In addition to measuring self-reported political trust, it examined related factors such as preferences for democratic governance, political efficacy, anti-political attitudes, and support for institutional interventions on climate issues. The findings suggest that while participation in deliberative processes alone has minimal effect on trust in democratic institutions, the inclusion of politicians and experts meaningfully shapes participants' external political efficacy and their attitudes towards political actors and decision-making. This highlights the importance of not only measuring direct trust but also considering broader political perceptions. The chapter contributes to understanding how the design of deliberative forums – particularly the inclusion of institutional representatives – can influence public trust and political engagement in complex policy areas.