In a world shaped by rapid technological disruption, shifting political landscapes, and growing polarization, trust in institutions is increasingly under strain. This session at IAS, organized by the Research Priority Area Trust in the digital Society and the AI, Media, and Democracy Lab, invites UvA researchers from various disciplines to engage in a dynamic, open-ended discussion on these urgent issues. As the first in a series of events focused on trust, this session will explore the intersection of technology, elections, political campaigning, populism, and the challenges they pose to trust in Europe's political institutions.

Through this event series, the Trust RPA aims to provide a platform for scholars studying trust (broadly), fostering interaction, debate, and collaboration across departments and faculties within the UvA. Moving beyond traditional presentations, the workshop mainly encourages collaborative dialogue to identify synergies across diverse academic perspectives, stimulating new collaborations and building a community of scholars.

Moreover, we aim to expand beyond academia by involving external participants, including politicians, journalists, and professionals from the private sector, to enrich the discussions each time we meet. For this first session, we have invited Amsterdam Municipal Counsel member Elisabeth IJmker as a key discussant. Elisabeth has worked on several proposals geared towards Amsterdam becoming a digitally independent city, since entering the counsel.