I genuinely think that the current crisis of trust within, and towards, the West is one of the key root causes for much of the global instability we’re witnessing right now.
Reflecting on what’s driving this crisis of trust raises a very simple question: can the West keep its promise to its own people and to the world at large, or has it become structurally incapable to do so?
First of all, is there a crisis of trust in the West? Absolutely. Check the latest 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer (https://lnkd.in/dCPnuCjn ) and it’s crystal clear that trust has collapsed in most Western countries. They have become the societies in the world with the lowest levels of trust (the UK for instance is now the lowest in the world, and the U.S. not far behind).You can also check national data: for instance in the U.S. public trust in government used to be close to 80% in the 1960s, it’s now down to a historic low of 16% (https://lnkd.in/dsiceajj). If that’s not a crisis of trust, I don’t know what is…
Why does that matter? Because trust is the glue that binds societies together, and what allows countries to keep moving forward. Within a country, if the people don’t trust their government or institutions, the effects ripple throughout every facet of life. This will feel familiar, a lack of trust leads to: 1) political instability and the rise of populism, 2) social divisions and tensions with protests, or civil unrest, 3) decrease in public health and safety as people don’t buy into health initiatives and disobey laws they feel illegitimate, 4) corruption, as people don’t feel accountable anymore, etc. And it’s a vicious circle as much of this further aggravates the lack of trust.
On the international stage, lack of trust means conflict. If you simply can’t trust another country, then agreements or diplomacy with them are meaningless since you simply can’t trust they’ll be respected. And when diplomacy cannot work, it means conflict.
At heart, what drives trust? It’s fairly simple: you trust people and institutions who keep their promises. It’s no coincidence that the UK is now one of the countries in the world with the lowest level of trust: there was a major promise in the form of Brexit, which was supposed to deliver many things (less immigration, better economic opportunities, etc.), almost none of which panned out.
by Arnaud Bertrand
https://lnkd.in/dAed-Kdk
Transforming Agribusiness, Trade, and Investment | Expert in Market Linkages, Value Chains, and Strategic Advisory | Championing Inclusive Growth, Digital Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Emerging Markets
2moInsightful...I find the recommendations presented in the article to align closely with Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority mandates and ongoing initiatives. COPRA’s efforts to address the recommendations 1. Development and standard setting COPRA is working to enhance quality and productivity in Tanzania’s cereal and produce sector by enforcing established national standards aligned with international benchmarks such as ISO 18716. 2. Quality assurance and compliance These efforts help farmers and exporters gain access to high-value markets, addressing the chronic underfunding of smallholder farmers highlighted in the article. 3. Coordination of stakeholders COPRA is leveraging its mandate to coordinate actors across the value chain, including farmers, processors, brokers, and exporters. Through collaboration with sector associtations, Regulatory Authorities, Trade and Investment Supporting Institutions COPRA is building a robust ecosystem to support the sector. 4. Policy advisory and advocacy This includes supporting regulatory frameworks that encourage private-sector participation and public-private partnerships (PPPs) Irene Madeje Mlola Nina-Cindy Malekia Kamwesige Mujuni Mtembei Lishe Mart