Restoring Trust in Institutions

Editor's Note

As faith in the foundations of democracy falters, how can we rebuild that trust?

Religious Freedom's Impact on Democratic Stability

Tony Blair

“Anything that stands in the way of the freedom of your people to express themselves in the way that they believe is appropriate and right in terms of their religious belief, that is not just wrong in itself, it’s an obstacle to the development of a country.”

Building Trust in Democratic Institutions Requires Standing Up for Them Worldwide

Nusrat Ghani

Tyrannical regimes, no matter how far away, create ripples that damage institutions worldwide. Democracies need the confidence to speak and act against oppression — or risk weakening their own foundations.

The Stakes Are High for Religious Institutions to Develop Community

Russell Moore

From damaging scandals to religious liberty being used as a lever for political gain, organized religion faces a loss of trust on a global scale. How can churches regain people’s faith?

The Intersection of Religious Freedom and Partisan Politics

Michael McConnell

While the Supreme Court has consistently protected religious freedom, some societal issues are being labeled as religious issues — evoking partisan politics and resulting in declining trust.

Trust Our Market Institutions Because the Road From Budapest to Caracas Is a Short One

Ken Hersh

Though well-intentioned, policy decisions that introduce interventions in how the marketplace functions often end up hurting those they are aimed to help — and erode trust.

Humble Leadership? Yes, and Humility Can Restore Trust

Bill Haslam

As American politicians continue to divide themselves into two disparate parties, humble leaders who can admit fault are key to uniting a nation — and restoring trust in our government.

America’s Democracy Can’t Afford for Our Public School Experiment to Fail

Anne Wicks

Education is a civil right and an agreed-upon investment by taxpayers for the future of our nation. But as the pandemic exacerbates challenges in school district, has trust been damaged permanently?

Distrust in Our Institutions Is Real, but We Can Rebuild Trust

Eva Chiang

Trust in government and media has recently declined sharply, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer — which raises the question, “Whom can we trust?” The answer might lie with our neighbors, and, surprisingly, our employers.

Reconnecting Democracy for the Next Generation

Chris Walsh

Surveys show that faith in American democracy are in decline. For the next generation to recapture that belief, leaders must show their support of democracy worldwide and demonstrate the desire to compromise.