The global trust deficit

Democracies around the world – even the richest and oldest – are struggling with an ironic and growing challenge. Even though democracies are designed to reflect ‘the will of the people’, citizens in these countries are growing increasingly distrustful of their governments. Many feel their governments are dysfunctional in their ability to make and implement policies and that their governments do not create policies with their best interests in mind. Some are even turning to populist politicians who promise more effective, even if more authoritarian, governance. The leader of China is trusted more than the leader of the US.

In this context, it's worth looking at an experiment undertaken by a democracy with a long history of distrust – an experiment that offers some realistic hope that steps can be taken to strengthen the bonds of trust between governments and citizens.

A small country adrift in a global ocean of changes

Slovenia is a small country, linguistically defined and with a unique history. It is well endowed with natural resources – water, forests, good soils – and has a favourable geo-strategic location at the crossroads of East and West and between the Mediterranean and Central and South-eastern Europe.

Since its independence in 1991, the country has made steady progress in economic and social development. It has achieved its initial independence ambitions: joining the European Union in 2004, introducing the euro as the national currency in 2007, and joining the OECD in 2010.