The debate on citizen images of political parties is long standing, but recently it has
taken on added importance as the evidence of party dealignment has spread across
Westerndemocracies.Thisarticleassemblesanunprecedentedcross-nationalarrayof
public opinion data that describe current images of political parties. Sentiments are
broadlynegative,andthispessimismhasdeepenedoverthepastgeneration.Then,we
demonstrate how distrust of parties decreases voting turnout, contributes to the
fragmentation of contemporary party systems and the electoral base of new protest
parties,andstimulatesbroadercynicismtowardsgovernment.Althoughpoliticalparties
arethefoundationofthesystemofrepresentativedemocracy,fewercitizenstodaytrust
politicalparties,andthisisreshapingthenatureofdemocraticpolitics.