Page 99 - ePaper
P. 99
Chapter 1: The legacy of the crisis: resilience and challenges
Extract 6: Losing trust in institutions
Qualitative analysis (see Box 1) highlights that, the distrust in institutions expressed by persons unemployed for at least one
year ranges from a balanced criticism to an overall rejection.
‘We are paying for things that have nothing to do with us.’ No 75.
Generally speaking, unemployed interviewees are feeling ignored by their representatives. They also share the feeling that
they pay disproportionately for economic recovery. Europe is especially seen as a major player in this feeling, together with
banks and firms:
‘I think an awful lot went wrong with this country when the government decided that they needed to look good in Europe
rather than look good to their own population I suppose.’ No 71
Nevertheless, public services continue to be seen as a tool towards better lives. Cuts in public expenditure severely affect
their lives.
‘We don’t trust the politicians anymore, because they have been a total disappointment. We can’t believe a thing they say
anymore. [....] There is also this downgrading of education by the government and it forces us to dig our hands into our pockets
to pay for extra classes, you know, but meanwhile we pay our taxes and are supposed to have an education system, but this
current downgrading of education is very disappointing… The State has even become our predator.’ No 34. EL, M., 55 years
In some countries strongly affected by the great recession, however, the feeling of distrust toward institutions is much more
pronounced —sometimes even violent, and embeds all types of institutions.
‘I’ve stopped watching the news. … I’ve stopped worrying about politics. It just tells me that it’s every man for himself in life.
Let everyone tend their own garden, that’s how it is, and I’ve put on blinkers and just say keep on going forward because I
have a child to raise.’ No 21, F, EL
‘My country simply died. My country, if it continues to be ruled by these people, by the idea of the people who are now govern-
ing, my country will die soon.’ No 93, PT
Extract 7: Losing trust in the public employment services
Interviews with people having experienced long-term unemployment show that trust in public employment service is varying
across Member States. There is a general feeling ranging from mistrust to defiance.
‘I get very down. There’s days I’ll just be sick of it.[…] I’ve sent out about 500 or 600 CVs […] I got a few interviews, but you
go to the interviews and it’s just like I’ve done interview techniques so it’s not a case of I don’t know what I’m doing when
I’m in there, it’s just the case that you go for the job […] and then they tell you and then OK and then it’s the whole jumping
through hoops that just gets you really down.’ No 72. IE, M, 38 years
97
Extract 6: Losing trust in institutions
Qualitative analysis (see Box 1) highlights that, the distrust in institutions expressed by persons unemployed for at least one
year ranges from a balanced criticism to an overall rejection.
‘We are paying for things that have nothing to do with us.’ No 75.
Generally speaking, unemployed interviewees are feeling ignored by their representatives. They also share the feeling that
they pay disproportionately for economic recovery. Europe is especially seen as a major player in this feeling, together with
banks and firms:
‘I think an awful lot went wrong with this country when the government decided that they needed to look good in Europe
rather than look good to their own population I suppose.’ No 71
Nevertheless, public services continue to be seen as a tool towards better lives. Cuts in public expenditure severely affect
their lives.
‘We don’t trust the politicians anymore, because they have been a total disappointment. We can’t believe a thing they say
anymore. [....] There is also this downgrading of education by the government and it forces us to dig our hands into our pockets
to pay for extra classes, you know, but meanwhile we pay our taxes and are supposed to have an education system, but this
current downgrading of education is very disappointing… The State has even become our predator.’ No 34. EL, M., 55 years
In some countries strongly affected by the great recession, however, the feeling of distrust toward institutions is much more
pronounced —sometimes even violent, and embeds all types of institutions.
‘I’ve stopped watching the news. … I’ve stopped worrying about politics. It just tells me that it’s every man for himself in life.
Let everyone tend their own garden, that’s how it is, and I’ve put on blinkers and just say keep on going forward because I
have a child to raise.’ No 21, F, EL
‘My country simply died. My country, if it continues to be ruled by these people, by the idea of the people who are now govern-
ing, my country will die soon.’ No 93, PT
Extract 7: Losing trust in the public employment services
Interviews with people having experienced long-term unemployment show that trust in public employment service is varying
across Member States. There is a general feeling ranging from mistrust to defiance.
‘I get very down. There’s days I’ll just be sick of it.[…] I’ve sent out about 500 or 600 CVs […] I got a few interviews, but you
go to the interviews and it’s just like I’ve done interview techniques so it’s not a case of I don’t know what I’m doing when
I’m in there, it’s just the case that you go for the job […] and then they tell you and then OK and then it’s the whole jumping
through hoops that just gets you really down.’ No 72. IE, M, 38 years
97
