Populism, Public Trust, and Democratic Resilience: A Political Analysis of Contemporary Governance

Abstrak

This study examines the relationship between populism, public trust, and democratic resilience in contemporary governance. It aims to explain how populist narratives influence public trust and how democratic institutions respond to political pressure arising from distrust, polarization, and anti-elite sentiment. The study employs a qualitative method with an interpretive case study design, selected because the research focuses on political meanings, institutional perceptions, and governance dynamics that cannot be adequately explained through numerical measurement alone. The research was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia, as the national center of political decision-making, public discourse, media activity, and democratic contestation. Data were collected from twelve purposively selected informants, including policy analysts, academics, journalists, civil society activists, political actors, public communication officers, legal observers, and community representatives. These informants were chosen because of their direct knowledge of populism, public trust, and democratic governance. The findings show that populism gains strength when public trust declines and when citizens perceive institutions as distant, unresponsive, or controlled by elites. Democratic resilience depends on institutional accountability, constitutional safeguards, civic participation, and transparent governance. The study recommends strengthening public communication, institutional reform, participatory mechanisms, and democratic education to rebuild trust while preserving pluralism and constitutional democracy.