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Abstract

The concepts of trust, confidence, faith, and we-feeling feature prominently in discussions about international cooperation and conflict. In broad strokes, each term is typically used to refer to a notion of risk or dependability, that is, a sense or assessment of the extent to which someone or something can be relied upon. Yet, there is considerable confusion about what the respective concepts describe more specifically. Many analysts have resorted to using just one concept and not the others, risking conceptual overstretch and imprecision. To help provide clarity, I propose a novel taxonomy of distinctive notions of reliability organized around two key questions: First, is the notion in question internal or external to an individual’s mind? And second, is the notion concerned a product of considered reflection or unquestioned, reflexive assumptions?

Keywords

confidence institution building regime sustainment trust verification

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