Crisis of resentment: institutional mistakes fuel global discontent

The "Edelman Trust Barometer" study 2025 shows a clear global crisis of resentment caused by institutional failure over the last 25 years. This crisis is fueled by various factors that lead to a widespread sense of injustice and hopelessness.

Here are the main causes of this resentment as identified in the sources:

• The growing gap between the masses and the elite: The study shows increasing income inequality and the feeling that "the system favors the rich". This leads to the impression that "the rich are not paying their fair share of taxes" and that "the selfishness of the rich is causing many of our problems".
• Lack of high-quality information: There is a growing difficulty in distinguishing between credible news and disinformation. People feel that news organizations want to attract a large audience rather than provide the necessary information. It is also becoming more difficult to tell whether news is coming from reputable media or from individuals trying to deceive.
• Deep skepticism towards the political system: Many people see the political system as "broken". This perception leads to a loss of trust in government leaders, especially when they "say things they know to be false or gross exaggerations".
• Widespread pessimism about the future: Many people have no hope that their family will be better off in five years' time. According to the study, "60 % of our respondents say they are begrudging, they don't believe the system works, they feel pressured about their bills, they actually have trouble navigating this world of misinformation, and they have no hope for the future."
• Increase in job insecurity: Many employees are worried about their job security as they feel threatened by international trade conflicts, foreign competitors, relocations abroad, the threat of recessions, automation and a lack of further training.

The study emphasizes that this resentment leads to "zero-sum" thinking, where one person's gain is seen as another's loss. This is particularly evident in people with high levels of resentment, who are more likely to believe that "what promotes their interests comes at the expense of others". Furthermore, the study shows that fear of being discriminated against is at an all-time high, with an increase of 10 percentage points since 2021.

A key finding of the study is the unprecedented global decline in trust in employers. Compared to 2018, employees' trust in their employers has fallen. The study states that companies can only play their role successfully "if they create the conditions that enable them to be successful. This means they need to listen to their own employees to find out what they want". It also shows that a majority of people in 23 out of 26 countries have a medium or higher level of resentment towards companies, governments and the rich. The study also found that people with higher levels of resentment are more likely to be suspicious of the use of artificial intelligence.

The study also emphasizes the need for all institutions to work together to overcome the crisis of confidence. Companies should focus on their core competencies, such as "creating good jobs with decent pay", investing in local communities and "creating fair conditions for all". Governments must fulfill their duties, the media should return to fact-based reporting and NGOs should "heal the social fabric". Only in this way can "optimism overpower resentment" and a positive outlook for the future be restored.

You can find the entire study here.