Trust In Public Life

Is the self-trust that leaders need to rule borne out of a lack of of self-knowledge? How can the virtues of honesty, humility, compassion, and competence help to rebuild trust in our institutions? Is trust in each other, between groups that make up ‘the people’, a choice?

To trust is to risk, to become vulnerable, to place the centre of our universe somewhere other than ourselves. A loss of trust, particularly in public figures and institutions, is increasingly a feature of modern life. Together these essays provide deep reflections on the nature of trust in the context of public life, agreeing that it is engendered through real encounters, not in the abstract or by force. They offer guidance on how to make those encounters real, whether they be within oneself, between people, or between institutions and the people they serve.

This book is part of the collection of publications for Westminster Abbey Institute.

ISBN: 9781913368753

Paperback

113 pages

Authors: Claire Gilbert, Josie Rourke, Anthony Ball, James Hawkey, Anna Rowlands