Trust

Recent political events sweeping democratic strongholds around the world reflect a deep loss of faith in government. Citizens perceive their institutions to be captured by elites who are disconnected from the needs of their constituents or complicit in schemes that benefit the powerful at the expense of ordinary citizens.

In this publication, we asked contributors to reflect on the multifaceted and complex sources of distrust. At the same time, we at the Open Government Partnership have had a front row seat to learn from and work with courageous and inspirational reformers who have compelling solutions to build citizen trust in government. As a result of their efforts, previously opaque institutions are making themselves more transparent and accessible to citizens. Public officials are reaching out, listening to citizens and meaningfully responding to their needs. Reformers in governments and civil society are working together to combat elite capture and grand corruption, and create a government that truly serves and empowers its citizens.

– Excerpt from An Open Government Approach to Rebuilding Citizen Trust

Contents

Trust: The Fight to Win It Back
A Catalyst for Trust | BOB COLLYMORE
Agenda 2030: A normative framework for recovering trust in government | AMINA J. MOHAMMED
An Open Government Approach to Rebuilding Citizen Trust | SANJAY PRADHAN
Beyond Laws: a Democratic Culture of Trust | JOSÉ LUIS SANTA MARÍA ZAÑARTU
Citizens Cannot Trust What They Cannot See | GAYLE SMITH
Clean Slate: Introducing Unrestricted Openness | DR. SUYOTO NGARTEP MUSTAJAB
Does More Transparency Mean More Trust? | IVAN KRASTEV
Don’t Kill the Messengers (just give them some power) | DANIEL CARRANZA
Foreword | WINNIE BYANYIMA & DR. MO IBRAHIM
From Informed Individuals to Informed Communities | MELINDA QUINTOS DE JESUS
Getting things done for the People, with the People | GIORGI KVIRIKASHVILI
Individualism and the Dissolution of Trust | JEAN-MARIE GUEHENNO
Media: A (mis)trusted interlocutor | CATHERINE GICHERU
Open Dialogue can Resolve Value Conflicts | DR. DON LENIHAN
Political Upheaval and Trust Building | KIM BOO-KYUM
Proximity to Citizens is Key | HORACIO RODRÍGUEZ LARRETA
Purpose-Driven Business Can Help Rebuild Trust | PAUL POLMAN
Re-Imagining Democracy and Life | JAY NAIDOO
Rewrite the Rules of the Global Economy | SHARAN BURROW
Serious Business: Four Principles in Trust Building | MAKSYM NEFYODOV
The Participation Revolution | DHANANJAYAN SRISKANDARAJAH
The Political Drivers of Low Trust | LARRY DIAMOND
Trust in Times of Intense Scrutiny | FRANS TIMMERMANS
Two Indispensable Pillars in Building Trust | MARIANNA MADIA
Why we must Trust the Process | ASIM GHAFFAR & SHEBA NAJMI
Youth Radicalisation and Distrust | AYA CHEBBI
Download the Trust Report

Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank the contributors for authoring thought-provoking essays on recovering trust in government.

We are very grateful to our Ambassadors, Winnie Byanyima and Mo Ibrahim, and their talented teams for sustained support and encouragement throughout the publication and for their tireless commitment to promoting open government globally.

The publication was edited by Munyema Hasan.