When distrust in government is endemic, as in the Eastern European and Soviet worlds at the end of the 1980s, there may be no better move than to weaken government substantially (Hardin 1999d, chapters 5 and 6). Elimination of agencies and powerful bureaus and bureaucrats will eliminate the objects of distrust. “Strong” leadership is precisely what is not wanted when strong leaders have been the problem. Weak leaders unable to intervene capriciously are what is wanted to make the society develop successful trusting relationships.

Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, loc. 764