Some analysts have called distrust the biggest governmental crisis of our time. It is unquestionably a huge problem, undermining confidence in our elected institutions, shrinking social capital, slowing innovation, and raising existential questions for democratic government itself.

What's behind the rising distrust in democracies around the world and can we do anything about it? In this lively and thought-provoking essay, Donald F. Kettl, a leading scholar of public policy and management, investigates the deep historical roots of distrust in government, exploring its effects on the social contract between citizens and their elected representatives. Most importantly, the book examines the strategies that present-day governments can follow to earn back our trust, so that the officials we elect can govern more effectively on our behalf.

About the Author
Donald F. Kettl is Professor and former Dean in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.

Reviews
"This short book is incredibly important. Trust is central to good governance and to promoting equality the world over, yet it is a commodity in short supply. With impressive concision and clarity Kettl lays out the enduring problem of declining trust in government and offers encouraging arguments for its potential resurgence in democratic political systems."
Marc J. Hetherington, Vanderbilt University

"In an era where the word 'trust' is often used without definition, thought, or sincerity, Kettl's work is a breath of fresh air and a strong contribution to our thinking about trust in government."
Rosemary O'Leary, University of Kansas



Book Information
ISBN 9781509522460
Author Donald F. Kettl
Format Paperback
Page Count 144
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 172g
Dimensions(mm) 191mm * 125mm * 13mm