Trust dynamics in federal systems

Patricia Popelier and Peter Bursens

Chapter 14 in Handbook on Trust in Public Governance, 2025, pp 217-231 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In federalism theory, federal trust is considered crucial for the survival of federal systems. This is an important consideration in view of the threats that characterise a growing number of contemporary multi-tiered systems. At the same time, federal trust seems an unworldly ideal, especially in divided multinational states where federal arrangements endeavour to manage conflicts that are generated by distrust. This raises the question as to whether and to what extent trust is indeed indispensable for the survival of federal systems. So far, federalism literature merely pointed to ‘federal trust’ as a basic condition for federal stability. This chapter redefines federal systems so that levels of trust can be differentiated, linked to particular forms of federal systems, and thus articulates the concept of trust in a federal context. It connects federal theories with trust theories, thereby dissecting the dynamics of federal trust to formulate hypotheses that may guide further research.

Keywords: Federal systems; Multinational systems; Forms of state; Dynamics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781802201390
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