Trust in politics: How can confidence in institutions be maintained?

 

Result

Trust in institutions forms the foundation of a stable society. It enables central institutions such as parliaments, courts and the media to fulfil their tasks effectively. More than three quarters of citizens share this conviction. Differences between age groups are only slightly pronounced. Older citizens attach slightly greater importance to trust, while the younger generation is slightly more reserved. Overall, however, there is a broad consensus that emphasises the essential role of trust for social stability and peaceful coexistence.

 

Reasons

In recent years, public debate has often been characterised by a loss of trust in institutions such as political parties, academia and the media. Various causes and developments have contributed to this development, e.g. political polarisation, populist movements, a lack of transparency, poor crisis management, misleading communication or even disinformation. Despite all these mistakes and criticism, trust in institutions remains essential for the majority of citizens in order to live together safely.

Trust thus forms the basis for the legitimisation of decisions and their acceptance, even if they do not correspond to one's own ideas. It creates the certainty that conflicts can be resolved peacefully and that basic needs such as education, healthcare and pension security can be guaranteed. Without trust, there is a risk not only of an erosion of democracy and social cohesion, but also of economic stagnation and reduced innovative strength.

Older citizens attach somewhat greater importance to trust in institutions than younger generations. Their experiences with times of crisis have taught them to value stable structures. For them, institutions stand for security, stability and prudent behaviour. With increasing age, the direct dependence on functioning systems also increases, for example in the area of healthcare or pensions. This generation was socialised at a time when institutions were equated with authority and enjoyed respect. This has led to older citizens being less mistrustful of state structures. Their lower affinity to digital media also protects them from the scepticism and criticism that is often spread there.

In contrast, the younger generation has grown up in a world of digitalisation and sees itself more as part of a globalised world in which local or national institutions are less important in shaping their lives. In addition, authorities and traditional ties to state institutions play a lesser role in their lives. This is also reflected in their emphasis on self-determination and self-realisation as well as their stronger rejection of institutional regulations or guidelines, by which they often feel restricted.

 

Forecast

Trust in institutions will play a central role in the stability of democracy and society in the coming years. The development of this trust will largely depend on how political representatives respond to challenges such as migration and economic uncertainties. Parties that convince through effective crisis management will gain in prestige. At the same time, there is a risk that inefficient action or a lack of transparency will further undermine existing trust. Past experience shows how quickly trust can be lost if decisions are perceived as inadequate or contradictory.

Technological developments such as the use of artificial intelligence will also characterise the relationship of trust between citizens and institutions. A lack of or unclear regulations will foster mistrust, especially if technologies make mistakes or contribute to the spread of disinformation. Institutions that set ethical standards and organise innovation transparently, on the other hand, will be perceived as more trustworthy.

Another decisive factor will be the ability of institutions to organise their work in a comprehensible and transparent manner. Social media play a dual role here: on the one hand, they can increase mistrust and, on the other, they open up new opportunities for dialogue between citizens and decision-makers. In the long term, it will become clear whether institutions not only want to achieve short-term success („thinking in terms of legislative periods“, „thinking in terms of headlines/circulation/click figures“), but also want to tackle complex challenges in a credible manner.

Trust will therefore remain a key resource for the legitimacy of government measures and the stability of democratic structures in the future.