Abstract

The epilogue reviews the argument of the book and explores how to restore trust and contain polarization. We can interrupt the negative feedback loop between distrust and partisan divergence through policies firmly within the liberal democratic toolkit. Freedom of association, markets, the welfare state, democratic governance, and elections have all been shown to promote trust for the right reasons. The epilogue also argues against right-wing and left-wing populism on the grounds that departures from liberalism are likely to make matters worse; the trust-generating properties of liberal institutions may be lost in a transition to a more populist regime, be it left-wing or right-wing.