From the desk of Rebecca Trout, Director of the National Civic League’s DC Office and All-America City Award
Trust in institutions—ranging from Congress and the criminal justice system to the media and public schools—is in decline. Even local governments, traditionally more insulated from this trend, are now feeling its impact, as evidenced by an increase in local officials reporting harassment as part of their work.
This erosion of trust presents serious challenges for democracy, undermining both effective governance and social cohesion. Institutions rely on legitimacy to secure public cooperation—or at the very least, adherence to rules and norms. Without this legitimacy, their ability to address pressing issues—such as climate change, homelessness, and public health—becomes severely impaired. But the consequences go beyond governance: waning trust deepens polarization, pushing people further from civic life and exacerbating the loneliness epidemic.
This triggers a vicious cycle: As trust erodes, institutions weaken, pressing issues go unaddressed, and distrust further deepens. In this environment, the appeal of a “strongman” figure—who promises quick, decisive action—gains traction. We’ve seen this throughout history— the Roman, Weimar, and Spanish Republics, to name a few—turned to authoritarian alternatives after years of decline and disillusionment with the status quo.
Enough handwringing—what do we do? First, we must understand the root causes of this erosion of trust, which I believe are threefold:
- Warranted Discontent
Okay, a little more handwringing. In many cases, institutions are not living up to the high expectations set, in part, by historical accomplishments. For example, there are valid concerns about a criminal justice system that spends more money and incarcerates more people per capita than any other country in the world—not to mention the gross racial disparities embedded in the system.For the richest country in history, the inadequacies of our healthcare system, the declining results of schools, and public infrastructure that has gone without necessary upgrades for decades are unacceptable. And guess what? People are no longer standing for it—they are willing to entertain radical changes in the hope of achieving a better quality of life. While burning down public institutions (many of which have historically served us well) isn’t the answer, neither is pretending that all is well. We cannot expect people to blindly trust and support institutions that continue to fail to meet expectations, all while self-reported quality of life declines. - Lack of Meaningful Representation and Say in Policy-Making
People tend to distrust institutions that don’t represent their perspectives. They also may distrust leaders who are different from them in terms of race, gender, income, religion, or ideology. That skepticism grows when these institutions, lacking broad representation, rely on decision-making processes that don’t meaningfully involve the people most impacted by those decisions. The thinking goes, “You don’t look or think like me, and you’re not involving me, so I have no faith or buy-in to what you ultimately decide.”Conversely, when people are involved in an institutional process—such as working the polls or serving on a jury—they’re more likely to trust both the individual process and the institution as a whole. Moreover, involvement can demystify processes, encourage civic engagement, and foster a sense of shared responsibility, which strengthens trust in both the process and the institution behind it. - Mis/Disinformation
I’ve been critical of institutions, yet many function effectively and are staffed by dedicated, skilled public servants. Even in less-than-ideal circumstances, institutions have played a crucial role in safeguarding public well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and hospital systems made critical decisions in real time, ultimately saving lives. Schools pivoted to remote learning, ensuring students continued their education despite the challenges. Election administrators, facing unprecedented obstacles, adapted swiftly—expanding absentee and mail-in voting to maintain both access and integrity in the electoral process.Local institutions have also stepped up. Parks and recreation departments, housing authorities, and public libraries have continued to serve their communities, often stretching limited resources to meet growing needs. Their work, though sometimes overlooked, is vital to the fabric of civic life.Yet, even when institutions perform well, misinformation can erode public trust. Bad-faith actors exploit crises, spreading false narratives—whether about election security, pandemic responses, or government programs—to sow discontent and push self-serving agendas. Social media amplifies these distortions, trapping people in echo chambers that blur the line between fact and fiction. In this climate, even the most effective institutions struggle to maintain legitimacy.
Enter, Participatory Democracy
As much as I’d like to claim there is a blanket solution, there’s no single, quick fix that will fully address this long-standing issue. But if I had to sum it up in one thing, I’d say we must simply do better.
The END.
Just kidding.
To do better, we must meaningfully involve people in the very institutions and processes that are causing discontent. Participatory democracy has the potential to address at least two of the three root causes of declining trust outlined above. Meaningful involvement can positively shape citizens’ democratic attitudes and behaviors by not only allowing them to peek behind the curtain—promoting transparency—but also increasing their knowledge and comfort with institutional functions.
In addition to addressing the lack of representation and meaningful input in decision-making, participatory processes lead to better outcomes. Decision-making is improved with more data points, which is why having people with lived experiences is essential to designing policies. Engaging diverse citizen perspectives not only creates buy-in and a sense of belonging, but also leads to more comprehensive solutions to the complex challenges institutions are grappling with.
When diverse voices contribute to policy discussions, solutions become more innovative and effective. Public engagement taps into collective wisdom, leading to better-designed policies.
When citizens directly shape decisions, they develop a sense of ownership and confidence in the process. An added bonus: their involvement helps institutions make better decisions. Sounds like a recipe for rebuilding trust to me.
So, what are some of these participatory processes? I’ll let my colleague, Matt Leighninger, take it from here. His ten-part series on the Future of Citizenship is a must-read, summarizing democracy innovations, the role of technology, and more. But I’ll leave you with a snapshot of practical participatory practices that are ripe for scaling and spreading:
- Citizens’ Assemblies
- Participatory Budgeting
- Deliberative forums (face-to-face, digital, or hybrid)
- In-person deliberations designed to help members of local online networks (such as Nextdoor) collaborate more inclusively and effectively
- Texting-enabled in-person deliberations, along the lines of “Text Talk Act” in the National Dialogue on Mental Health
- Modules for grassroots organizations to help them increase turnout and improve participation
- Deliberative candidate forums that help candidates engage voters in policy platform discussions
A Moment for Change
Crises, while painful, also create opportunities. The current trust crisis offers a critical moment to rethink governance and refocus democracy on the needs and talents of everyday people. Instead of relying solely on elections as our primary connection to democracy, we must explore new approaches. By doing so, we can restore faith in public institutions, deepen civic engagement, and drive meaningful progress on the persistent challenges we face. The path forward is clear: A government that actively involves its people is a government that functions effectively and earns trust.
