Do Beliefs Build States? How Trust in Institutions Shapes Real-World Action

How do fragile democracies build lasting institutions—and what role do beliefs play in that process?

Michael Callen, Associate Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, has spent years studying how political institutions take shape in post-conflict and developing states. In this talk, he shares new research from a nationwide field experiment in Nepal, where over 4,000 local leaders were exposed to new information about the country's political stability and inclusion—and then asked to engage in a real task that supports state-building.

The results offer rare causal evidence that trust in political systems—beliefs about whether institutions are fair, stable, and representative—can shape whether people actually invest in strengthening them. The findings raise important questions for future policymakers: What happens when people lose faith in the state? And what can be done to build—or rebuild—that trust?

Join us for this CID Speaker Series event as Professor Callen presents findings from his research across South Asia, focusing on the relationship between institutional perceptions and state capacity in fragile and transitioning democracies.

This event is hosted by Harvard’s Center for International Development and will be held in a hybrid format. All are welcome. Harvard ID holders are encouraged to attend in person, while non-HUID guests are invited to join via livestream or access the event recording afterward.