The relation between system justification and collective action in individualistic versus collectivistic European countries

The present study examined the moderation of individualism-collectivism on the (negative) relation between system justification and collective action in a representative sample of the European population, using data from the European Social Survey Round 9 (2018). Because collectivism (vs. individualism) emphasizes the relevance of one’s group and its goals, but it also binds individuals to their broader system, we formulate the competing predictions that the negative relation between system jus-tification and collective action may be weaker, or oppositely stronger, in collectivistic (vs. individualistic) countries. Results from a multilevel analysis revealed a cross-level interaction between system justification and individualism-collectivism confirming the negative relation between system justification and collective action in individualistic, but not collectivistic, countries. This study suggests that the strength of the negative relation between system justification and collective action differs across indi-vidualistic and collectivistic cultures: collectivistic (vs. individualistic) cultures dampen the system jus-tification–collective action negative link.