Stable political systems are based on trust in their core values and institutions. Trust is both the result and the prerequisite of a process of communication and participation, in which loyalty can also arise from critical positions, as is to be expected in a pluralistic context. The current, tangible performance of institutions in relation to citizens’ living conditions is a decisive factor in building or eroding trust. In times of challenge and crisis, new movements can, for example, close representation gaps, but depending on their objectives, they may contribute either to the integration or the division of society. The latter occurs when communication and participation are negatively instrumentalized, as seen in the populist rejection of liberal democracy and the insistence on exclusive claims to truth. This should be countered by communication that fosters rationality and by open opportunities for participation that build trust.