A new annual survey by communications firm Edelman reveals a pervasive global sentiment of distrust, with people increasingly wary of governments and various institutions.

Richard Edelman, CEO of the company, described the findings, released ahead of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, by stating: “Distrust is the new default instinct.”

The survey, conducted between October 23 and November 18, collected responses from 37,500 individuals across 28 countries.

It highlights a significant erosion of confidence in established institutions and their leaders, prompting people to seek reassurance within their immediate environments, particularly their workplaces.

According to the findings, employers have emerged as the most credible brokers of trust, with offices seen as the safest spaces to discuss pressing challenges such as artificial intelligence, globalization, and economic livelihoods.

Edelman attributes this trust to the structured rules of behavior present in professional settings, often lacking in the broader public sphere.

He emphasized that businesses have a vested interest in maintaining this trust, as workforce disengagement and narrow-mindedness can directly impact organizational performance.

The survey also exposed a growing societal divide rooted in differing values and beliefs. About 70% of respondents expressed reluctance to trust individuals with divergent values, life experiences, or backgrounds.

In the workplace, roughly 42% said they would prefer to switch departments rather than work under someone with opposing beliefs, while a third admitted they would put in less effort if a project leader did not share their convictions.

Safety of the Familiar Over Collective Progress

Edelman explained that this trend reflects a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing individual safety over collective advancement: “We opt for the safety of the familiar over the perceived risk of innovation. We prefer nationalism to global connection; we choose individual benefit over common advancement, the Me over the We.”

Economic anxieties and technological fears amplify this insular mindset. Many low-income workers expressed concern about job displacement due to AI, while fears over economic instability, trade disputes, and recession-related job losses reached record highs.

Optimism about future generations remains limited, with less than a third of respondents believing the next generation will enjoy a better quality of life.

According to Edelman, “Fears of inflation, potential job loss to AI, and concerns about disinformation are now the most corrosive factors undermining trust.” He noted a shift in public sentiment, moving “from alarm to anger to sullen acquiescence and insularity.”

While overall confidence in governments, businesses, and media remained relatively stable over the past year, regional differences emerged.

France, grappling with a political crisis since mid-2024, recorded the largest drop in trust, whereas Nigeria and the UAE saw notable increases, partly due to a recent economic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening trade ties.

The release of Edelman’s survey coincides with the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the WEF’s own risk report identified “geoeconomic confrontation” and “state-based armed conflict” as top concerns—echoing the themes of instability and distrust highlighted in Edelman’s research..