(Dis-)trusting Civic Institutions Across Generations

Insights from the United States and Germany

Speaker: Frank Reichert, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow
Moderator: Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director of the Society, Culture, & Politics Program, AGI

In many countries, the apparent support for populist leaders, parties, and policies has raised concerns about democratic citizenship and resilience. Particular attention has been directed toward younger generations who, in large numbers, supported political parties rallying in favor of antidemocratic and illiberal policies in recent elections, including in the United States and Germany. This has baffled stakeholders and academics who expected a generational change leading toward increasing support for liberal policies. This webinar takes institutional (dis-)trusts as a starting point to develop a typology of individuals’ trust in civic institutions, such as courts, the police, political parties, governments, or the media. Using nationally representative data from the United States and Germany, this presentation will demonstrate that distinct patterns of trust and distrust in civic institutions seen among adults today were already visible among adolescents two decades ago. These patterns of institutional (dis-)trust among different generations and across time will be compared to describe change and stability. It will further illuminate the characteristics of those holding different (dis-)trust patterns and how these patterns are associated with illiberal and antidemocratic attitudes. Comparisons between the United States and Germany will be highlighted and discussed with respect to the possible precursors of antidemocratic sentiment and the potential implications for democratic societies.

Frank Reichert is a professor at the University of Hong Kong and an affiliate of the Research Center for Inclusive Citizenship at the Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany. He has published widely on citizenship norms, civic education, digital citizenship, and youth civic development and currently co-chairs the Standing Group on Citizenship of the European Consortium for Political Research. He previously worked at universities and research institutions in Germany and Australia and held several prestigious fellowships, including a Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship from the U.S. National Academy of Education. As an international expert, he currently contributes to the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) 2027 of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). He also co-developed a comprehensive digital competence assessment instrument and was commissioned by UNESCO to prepare a background report for the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report.

Event Summary

The Crucial Role of Trust in Civic Institutions

Trust in civic institutions plays a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion, ensuring political stability, and fostering compliance with laws and regulations. When citizens trust the institutions that govern them, policies are more effectively implemented, and public services function more efficiently. This trust reduces the appeal of populist movements and conspiracy theories, and decreases the likelihood of civic unrest. While trust can serve as a stabilizing force, excessive trust can also lead to diminished accountability. When institutions are not critically examined, corruption and mismanagement can fester and civic engagement may wane.

Comparative Trends: United States vs. Germany

Comparing trends in the United States and Germany reveals that both countries have experienced declining trust in key institutions, including governmental branches and the media. Over recent decades, the United States has seen a particularly marked drop in trust, whereas Germany has displayed some increases in institutional trust among adults. Trust in the media remains low in both contexts, with strong generational patterns emerging – especially in the United States. Older generations tend to express more trust in established media outlets and government-related institutions, while younger generations often exhibit greater skepticism. Political affiliation and media consumption habits further shape these trust profiles, as some demographic groups rely on sources perceived as politicized, thereby reinforcing their distrust in other institutions.

Emergence of Distinct Trust Profiles Across Generations

Over time, distinct trust profiles have emerged, some of which can be traced back to attitudes formed in adolescence. These profiles range from individuals who broadly trust all institutions to those who trust none, as well as groups that either rely on or reject traditional and press-related media. Although initial expectations might suggest that young people become more trusting of institutions as they mature, evidence instead indicates that distrust can become more likely as they enter adulthood. Media consumption patterns also play a pivotal role, as the politicization of certain outlets has led to entrenched positions in which some groups trust one source above all others, while dismissing competing media institutions.

Trust Profiles and Their Impact on Social Attitudes

The correlations between trust profiles and social attitudes are apparent in domains such as equal rights for women and minorities. Some groups that exhibit high levels of distrust are less supportive of these rights, while those with more balanced trust profiles tend to show greater acceptance of inclusive social policies. By contrast, changes in political leadership and policy directions correlate with trust patterns. For example, the youngest generations in some contexts exhibit higher levels of comprehensive distrust when conservative administrations are in power.

Recommended Strategies to Address Declining Trust in Civic Institutions

Addressing declining trust in civic institutions requires sustained effort. Continuous civic education that extends beyond formal schooling helps citizens better understand political processes, fosters informed engagement, and discourages the acceptance of misinformation. Encouraging bipartisan cooperation, cultivating respectful discourse among political opponents, and ensuring that public officials and journalists adhere to ethical standards are all strategies that can restore institutional credibility. Reducing politicization in media coverage and mitigating sensationalism can enhance the quality of public debate, making it easier for citizens to evaluate the performance of institutions on their merits. At the same time, grassroots efforts aimed at rebuilding trust must gain credibility, scale effectively, and involve local communities in a way that convinces even those inclined to distrust that their voices matter and their concerns will be addressed.

Building a Transparent and Accountable Civic Environment

Ultimately, reversing trends in institutional distrust involves creating an environment in which transparency, accountability, fairness, and responsiveness are the norms. When citizens witness these principles applied consistently, they have reason to place faith in the institutions that shape their lives. Overcoming skepticism is not a simple task, but by promoting inclusive civic education, encouraging responsible media practices, and reinforcing values of mutual respect and open dialogue, it is possible to cultivate a healthier level of trust that serves both individual communities and the broader political and social landscape.

Discussion

A significant challenge is balancing the preservation of core democratic values with the need for pragmatic governance. Germany’s strategy, which emphasizes continuous civic education and ethical media practices, has shown some success in increasing institutional trust among adults. In contrast, the United States faces deeper political polarization and media fragmentation, which complicate similar efforts. The United States requires robust and multifaceted strategies to address its unique challenges.

There are hypotheses that citizens’ trust is shaped by interaction with institutions, but trust can also be determined by how those institutions are presented in the media. In the United States, the politicization of media outlets like Fox News appears to foster polarized trust profiles, where trust in one media source often correlates with distrust in its counterparts like MSNBC. This polarization exacerbates societal divisions and hinders the restoration of trust in institutions. It is necessary to implement ethical standards for journalism and promote balanced reporting to mitigate the negative impact of biased media consumption. However, regulating media without infringing on press freedom presents its own set of challenges.

Generational differences are further examined, with younger generations exhibiting higher levels of distrust compared to older cohorts. This generational shift poses long-term implications for democratic stability, as sustained distrust among the youth could lead to decreased civic engagement and weaker support for public policies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of extending civic education beyond formal schooling to adulthood, fostering a deeper understanding of political processes, and encouraging continuous engagement with civic institutions.

There are movements in the UK and Germany to implement small-scale grassroots initiatives, such as citizen assemblies and dialogues, to involve citizens at the local level. While these efforts hold promise for rebuilding local trust, their scalability and credibility on a national level remain uncertain. For grassroots initiatives to be truly effective, they must be inclusive, transparent, and genuinely responsive to community needs, integrating seamlessly with broader national strategies for civic education and media reform.

This event is supported by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office.