Abstract
Trust is one of the most important, yet most difficult to measure, forms of social cooperation. It determines behavior in interactions between individuals as well as in the functioning of institutions, where a lack of trust can cause systemic disruptions. This study examines three levels of trust—low, high, and optimal—from a theoretical and analytical perspective, with a particular focus on how these levels shape social cohesion and institutional effectiveness. The analysis combines the conceptual frameworks of classical and modern trust theories (Hobbes, Durkheim, Luhmann, Giddens, Fukuyama, Putnam, Hardin) with international data (OECD, WVS, ESS), pointing out that trust is not only a moral attitude but also a source of social capital and political stability. The examples of the Scandinavian countries show that high, but not unconditional, trust supports the sustainability of welfare systems, while societies characterized by low trust are dominated by excessive control, political polarization, and social fragmentation. The study concludes that trust is not a static resource, but a social process that is shaped by the interaction of cultural norms, institutional quality, and individual experiences. For future research, therefore, a systemic approach to measuring and developing trust is crucial, not only from a psychological perspective, but also in terms of the resilience of democratic institutions and the sustainability of citizen participation.
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