Institutional Dysfunctions and Trust Repair: An Introduction

ABSTRACT This article introduces the conceptual framework for the Symposium on Institutional Dysfunctions and Trust Repair. It examines what it means for public institutions in liberal democracies to function well and how dysfunctions challenge institutional legitimacy and corrode citizens' trust. After identifying three recurring forms of dysfunction – inefficiency, democratic deficits, and corruption – and linking them to broader patterns of structural injustice, it surveys philosophical accounts of institutional functioning, contrasting purpose‐oriented and principle‐based approaches. It also highlights officeholders' affective and contestatory reactions as crucial to diagnosing and correcting institutional dysfunctions. Finally, the article situates these themes within debates on institutional trust and trust repair, emphasizing the role of officeholders' conduct in restoring institutional functioning and repairing trust. Together, the symposium's contributions advance a composite understanding of institutional functioning, failure, and recovery, and chart new directions for philosophical inquiry into the moral life of public institutions.