Hardback

Handbook on Trust in Public Governance

9781802201390 Edward Elgar Publishing
Edited by Frédérique Six, Associate Professor of Public Governance and Organization, the Zijlstra Centre for Public Control, Governance and Leadership, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Visiting Professor, GOVTRUST Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium, Joseph A. Hamm, Associate Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Environmental Science and Policy Program, Department of Political Science, Michigan State University, USA, Dominika Latusek, Professor of Management and Organization Theory, Center for Trust Studies, Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland, Esther van Zimmeren, Professor in Intellectual Property Law, Faculty of Law and GOVTRUST Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium and Koen Verhoest, Professor in Public Administration and Governance, Department of Political Science and GOVTRUST Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Publication Date: March 2025 ISBN: 978 1 80220 139 0 Extent: c 400 pp
This Handbook explores the transformative power of trust for relations within and between political, legislative, administrative, regulatory and judicial actors, as well as societal actors and citizens. Adopting a multi-actor and multi-level perspective, it highlights the centrality of functional trust and distrust in enhancing the resilience, effectiveness and legitimacy of current governance systems.

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This Handbook explores the transformative power of trust for relations within and between governments, parliaments and politicians, administrations and regulatory agencies, courts, societal actors and citizens. Adopting a multi-actor and multi-level perspective, it highlights the centrality of trust in enhancing the resilience, effectiveness and legitimacy of current governance systems.

Bringing together a cross-disciplinary team of experts, the Handbook examines the causes, dynamics and effects of trust and distrust in public governance. Authors illustrate the complex interplay between (dis)trust, vulnerability, transparency, power, regulation and control in an era characterised by fluid and inclusive forms of government that require collaboration and a functional balance between trust and distrust to operate. They cover key topics including among others, participation, networks, contracting, technology, crisis governance and trust reparation. Ultimately, the Handbook explores how to expand the boundaries of future research, and demonstrates that fostering reciprocal relations of functional trust is a fundamental principle of effective governance.

The Handbook on Trust in Public Governance is an essential read for students and scholars of public administration and management, political science, policy studies and public governance. It is also a key resource for policy-makers and government officials seeking to craft strategies that enhance governance legitimacy and resilience.
Critical Acclaim
‘Most states and societies are coping with turbulence. This coping requires substantial and grounded trust in our systems. Trust becomes one of the most important and fragile social capitals for the future of our states and societies. This Handbook demonstrates not only all dimensions of trust in public governance, but even more, it proves how to set up public governance for sustainable trust.’
– Geert Bouckaert, KU Leuven Public Governance Institute, Belgium
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