Abstract

Public trust and institutional legitimacy constitute two of the most important foundations of democratic governance. Modern states rely not only upon legal authority and administrative capacity but also upon the willingness of citizens to regard institutions as legitimate, trustworthy, effective, and deserving of compliance. During periods of political stability, public trust often functions as a relatively invisible resource that facilitates governance, policy implementation, social cooperation, and democratic participation. During periods of crisis, however, trust and legitimacy become highly visible political assets whose presence or absence can significantly influence institutional resilience, democratic stability, social cohesion, and long-term state capacity.