Understanding Trust and Social Unrest

In the past decade, mass protests have erupted worldwide, drawing participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including differences in gender, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, religion, ideology, generation, and political affiliation. These movements have fostered alliances and coalitions that transcend traditional social and political divides. As captured in this special issue, coedited by members of the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), scholars have applied social movement theories to study and understand these evolving forms of collective action. It shows how there is still limited understanding of how trust is built during phases of mobilisation and how different levels of trust affect the outcomes of these movements.

Defining Social Trust

German sociologist Claus Hoffe defines social trust as “the expectation that others will contribute to the well-being of an individual or group, or at least refrain from harmful actions”. For a long time, scholars of social movements have highlighted the significance of a specific type of trust in fostering participation and driving the emergence of protests – trust rooted in pre-existing social ties and networks. However, in the context of mass protests and larger social movements, interactions extend far beyond those between familiar individuals. While personal or particularised trust between known people can serve as a foundation for mobilisation, it alone is insufficient to sustain broader and more enduring collective action.

Types of Trust in Social Movements

Existing research on trust distinguishes between political and social trust. Political trust refers to the vertical trust that citizens or social groups place in political institutions, while social trust refers to the horizontal trust between individuals or groups. Social trust is further divided into particularised or personal trust, which is trust in people one knows, and generalised trust, which is trust in strangers. Generalised social trust can also be broken down into two categories: trust in members of one’s own social group (ingroup trust) and trust that spans societal divisions (outgroup trust).

Mobilisation Dynamics

Research indicates a positive relationship between various forms of social trust and mobilisation. First, pre-existing personal or particularised trust, which ranges from close-knit networks to looser social ties between friends and family, is seen as highly beneficial for mobilisation. This becomes especially crucial as the risks of participation increase. Second, high levels of generalised trust also appear to encourage collective action, as individuals with greater trust in others feel more confident that others will join them in collective action.

Trust Building During Protests

Mario Diani was among the first to argue that trust can multiply during episodes of contentious collective action. Intense, on-the-ground protest experiences can strengthen social bonds, and the shared experience of being present at events may be just as significant in forging movement ties as co-membership. Evidence suggests that democratic or participatory practices, along with accountability mechanisms within movements, foster trusting relationships.

Disrupting Routine

Beyond trust building as a byproduct of mobilisation dynamics, social movements also involve intentional efforts to either cultivate or undermine trust. A core aim of many movements, as sociologist Helena Flam puts it, is “to disrupt people’s routine trust in authorities and challenge the assumption that these authorities act in the public’s best interest and therefore merit loyalty.” In this way, movements deliberately seek to reshape social relations by fostering scepticism toward established institutions.

Importance of Trust in Coalition

Establishing horizontal trust among movement supporters and potential allies is essential for facilitating collaboration across various groups and organizations. Engaging in contentious actions carries numerous risks, ranging from physical threats to individual activists facing state repression to dangers that jeopardize the identities and interests of individual groups, potentially threatening their survival. Therefore, a minimal level of mutual trust is necessary for social movements and coalitions to form.

Sustaining Trust Over Time

For these movements and coalitions to endure over time, the continuous building of trust becomes even more vital. There are various strategies and mechanisms through which movements and coalitions can cultivate this trust. Conversely, the inability to establish or maintain trust can significantly contribute to the weakening, division, or even collapse of social movements and coalitions.

The Dynamic Nature of Trust

It becomes evident that trust relations within contentious politics are highly dynamic, with trust being gained and lost over varying time frames—sometimes quickly and sometimes gradually. While trust research typically suggests that establishing trust is a slow process and that breaches can lead to rapid destruction, it can also be built swiftly, particularly in the context of collective contentious action.

For example, the 2020 protests in Belarus were triggered by widespread allegations of electoral fraud in the presidential election, where long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory amidst significant public discontent. As hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets demanding fair elections and political reforms, participants in these mass protests experienced a notable increase in social trust among each other. Political scientist Douglas illustrates that this growing sense of solidarity emerged even as overall social trust levels in the country declined following the revolution, highlighting the capacity for rapid trust-building in the face of adversity.

Building Trust

There are various approaches to building trust within social movements. Trust-building requires active effort, involving a diverse range of actors, including activists, state representatives, and brokers or translators, as identified by Doerr and Hansen —who all play significant, direct, and intentional roles in this process. Trust can also develop as a byproduct of activities and practices that movements and organisations undertake for other reasons, such as when they deliberate about their agenda and strategy or engage in joint protests. Overall, there is considerable trial and error in managing trust relations within these movements.

Collective Action and Socio-Political Change

By examining various anti-regime protests around the world since 2011, research has reaffirmed the critical role of trust in managing risks and overcoming fear. While pre-existing trust can provide a foundation for mobilisation, the building and maintenance of trust are crucial for sustaining collective action, fostering collaboration, and navigating the challenges posed by state repression and societal divisions. By understanding the various factors that influence trust and by employing strategies to maintain it, social movements can enhance their effectiveness and contribute to broader social and political change.