current
Eroding Institutional Trust
Declining trust in institutions, ideas, and geopolitical stability is creating a volatile environment that demands new leadership approaches.
Timeframe
near-term
Impact areas
Detailed Analysis
Trust in traditional institutions, including businesses and governments, is eroding, while geopolitical instability is increasing. The report notes, "The foundations of trust are shifting." This creates a challenging environment for leaders who must navigate shifting power dynamics, build trust at scale, and maintain legitimacy. The digital space has become a new arena for geopolitical competition, with technology giants playing an increasingly influential role.
Context Signals
Declining trust in democracies
Rise of technology giants as geopolitical actors
Increased scrutiny of businesses' social license to operate
Edge
Development of new frameworks for building and measuring trust
Increased focus on transparency and accountability
Emergence of new forms of stakeholder engagement
