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Association canadienne de science politiqueProgramme du congrès annuel de l'ACSP 2025
Les politiques d’appartenance : conflit,
communauté, curriculum
Organisé au Collège George Brown, Toronto, CANADA
3 juin au 5 juin 20252025 Annual Conference Programme
The Politics of Belonging: Conflict,
Community, Curriculum
Hosted at George Brown College
June 3 to June 5, 2025
Politique canadienne
A21(b) - Roundtable - Trust and Political Leadership: A Synthesis of New Research and Knowledge
Date: Jun 5 | Heure: 03:30pm to 05:00pm | Salle:
Cristine de Clercy (Trent University)Michael MacKenzie (Vancouver Island University)
Stéphane Paquin (UQTR/ENAP)
Susan Dieleman (University of Lethbridge)
Peter Ferguson (Government of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat)
Abstract: This roundtable brings together five leading researchers working on the cutting edge of scholarship concerning trust, populism and transparency within the context of democratic leadership. The roundtable discussion is organized around one central question: what are the most important things you have learned about trust and political leadership over the course of the last two years? All five experts hold formal research positions that specifically mandate research concerning trust, government and leadership. Four panelists are Jarislowsky Chairs in Trust and Political Leadership who were appointed to their posts within the last two years. A fifth panelist heads research on Trust and Open Government for the Government of Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat. Four are the presenters are political scientists and one is a philosopher; the interdisciplinary panel therefore features a rich array of theoretical and empirical analysis. All five scholars present new argumentation, new data and new insights gained over the last 24 months to shape a timely discussion about exercising political leadership in an era of increasing extremism and distrust. Within the main question, the panelists will consider three important issues that are germane to their research in Canada and the comparative context: first, in a period of heightened extremism, can increasing government transparency increase public trust and mitigate distrust? Second, does a rise of populism on the right and left necessarily indicate declining trust in political leaders and a diminished perception of the power of political leaders over time? Finally, what are some of the most and least useful data or information sources you have employed in your recent work? In sum, the roundtable creates an opportunity for five senior experts in trust and political leadership to pool their recently accumulated knowledge and share their best insights with other scholars and students working in these areas. The panel discussion addresses the complex effects of transparency and populism on public trust in leaders. The focus on communicating newly gained knowledge promises to efficiently inform the audience about the latest information and new approaches that have gained traction in scholarly circles. So, the panel discussion invites audience members to reconsider some received wisdom in light of new knowledge about how leaders may best exercise political leadership and shore up trust in an era of increasing extremism and distrust.