Political Trust on Trial - Global Perspectives on Trust, Power, and Democracy

“But is the problem low trust — or low trustworthiness? To be discussed!” – Pippa Norris

Globally, trust in governments and democracies is declining, while corruption, polarization, and propaganda further erode this foundation. When politics fails to serve the people, a vacuum emerges — but what fills it? Authoritarian systems that manipulate trust? Grassroots movements that rebuild it? And what does this mean for the future of democracy?

This panel brings together diverse international perspectives: Paul Krisai, ORF foreign correspondent in Moscow, offers insights from inside authoritarian systems, where propaganda and power calculations wield trust as a tool. Gvantsa Gverdtsiteli, an expert at Transparency International, highlights how corruption undermines trust in climate policy and international cooperation. Lukas Hermsmeier, journalist and author, illustrates how social movements in the U.S. build trust from the ground up, mobilizing against institutional failure.

Moderated by Professor Roberta Maierhofer, cultural scholar and director of the Center for Inter-American Studies at the University of Graz, the panel will critically examine how political trust is lost, manipulated, or redefined worldwide. What are the consequences of this trust deficit for democracies and societies? How does corruption erode political credibility? And can grassroots movements create the space that institutions can no longer fill?