Populism and Trust: An Unbreakable Binomial?

The field of political science has long grappled with the pervasive influence of populism, a form of politics that remains resilient despite predictions of its decline. The recent global pandemic has underscored a critical aspect of populism: its intricate relationship with trust and mistrust. Both populism and mistrust are elusive concepts, challenging to define and quantify, yet they are pivotal in shaping contemporary political landscapes. Current literature in democratic studies has not sufficiently explored this interplay, leaving a significant gap in understanding. Populism is often seen as a response to the perceived failures of democratic promises, with mistrust playing a central role in this dynamic. This research topic seeks to bridge the gap between philosophical political theories of trust and empirical studies of populism, aiming to address the fissures in democracy caused by populist distrust. By doing so, it hopes to restore trust in political institutions and navigate the complex dilemmas posed by populism, which simultaneously threatens and corrects democratic systems.

This research topic aims to investigate the complex relationship between populism and trust, focusing on how populist movements exploit and exacerbate mistrust in political institutions. The primary objective is to explore the philosophical and empirical dimensions of this relationship, seeking to understand how populism can both undermine and potentially strengthen democratic processes. Key questions include: How does populism leverage mistrust to gain political traction? What are the emotional, socio-economic, and identitarian factors that fuel this mistrust? By addressing these questions, the research aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of populism's role in contemporary politics.

To gather further insights into the intricate dynamics between populism and trust, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The emotional grounding of populist mistrust, including the role of fear, disdain, and resentment.
• Socio-economic factors contributing to the rise of populism, such as inequality and the crisis of neoliberalism.
• Identitarian aspects of populist mistrust, including the subversion of democratic representation and the interplay with nativism and ethnonationalism.

Keywords: Populism, Trust, Mistrust, Political Theory, Political Science, Democracy, Democratic Theory

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.