Social capital theory emphasizes interpersonal trust as a facilitator of cooperation among individuals, crucial for the formation of autonomous associations within civil society and for the engagement of citizens in public affairs. Despite the importance of trust for the concept of social capital, recent empirical research has been demonstrating that its effect on civic participation is weak, at best. This paper suggests an interactive model, where the effect of trust is conditioned by motivational aspects of participation (expectations of benefits and perceptions of costs). Using data from the 2005 British Election Study (BES), a survey conducted in the United Kingdom, I test the conditional effect of interpersonal trust on individuals' willingness to engage in different types of collective action. The findings point to a conditional effect of trust that varies not only according to motivation variables, but also depending on the type of engagement
trust; engagement; participation; costs; benefits
