In an era marked by democratic fatigue and constitutional uncertainty, Scotland faces both a unique challenge and a profound opportunity.
Globally, trust in political institutions is waning, civic engagement often feels performative rather than impactful, and citizens experience governance as remote or unresponsive. Scotland mirrors these trends, but it also possesses a potent yet underleveraged asset: its soft power.
Soft power, defined by Joseph Nye as the ability to attract and persuade rather than coerce, has long shaped how Scotland is seen internationally. Its rich cultural exports, esteemed universities, and principled global engagement have earned it a respected place on the world stage. Festivals like the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe draw millions, fostering a global image of creativity and openness, while institutions such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews universities attract top-tier students and research partnerships. Scotland’s leadership in climate action and humanitarian efforts further reinforces its reputation as an outward-looking nation committed to global citizenship. The pressing question is whether these same strengths can be harnessed at home to rebuild public trust, strengthen democratic legitimacy, and reconnect citizens with meaningful influence.
This blog explores the concept of smart trust: a strategic, values-led approach to democratic engagement that harnesses Scotland’s cultural, educational, and international strengths to address the urgent domestic challenge of legitimacy.
The Domestic Trust Challenge
Public trust in Scotland’s political institutions has been steadily eroding, reflecting widespread frustration with a system seen as slow, unresponsive, and out of touch. High civic engagement, most notably the 84% turnout in the 2014 referendum, has not translated into meaningful political progress, leaving many Scots feeling that participation rarely leads to change. This disillusionment spans constitutional divides: the 2023 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found trust in the Scottish Government at just 47%, while a 2025 YouGov poll showed 54% of Scots would vote No in a new referendum, hinting at fatigue with ongoing constitutional debates and scepticism about political leadership.
Amid high civic energy and declining confidence, there is an urgent need for new approaches to reconnect citizens with influence and rebuild faith in Scotland’s democracy. Smart trust offers exactly that.
Smart trust is a reciprocal relationship between people and institutions, grounded in transparency, respect, and shared values. Inspired by Suzanne Nossel’s concept of smart power, it combines cultural influence, educational empowerment, and ethical governance to strengthen democratic legitimacy, ensuring citizens can participate meaningfully, engage critically, and see policies reflect Scotland’s values at home and abroad.
Three Pillars of Smart Trust
1. Culture as a Platform for Democratic Dialogue
Scotland’s cultural institutions connect internationally and domestically, with the Edinburgh Festivals leading the way. By hosting community forums that bring together artists, audiences, and policymakers, and by supporting local talent, schools, and communities, Edinburgh’s Festivals cultivate global solidarity, nurture skills, and create vibrant, sustainable spaces – cementing their role as a cornerstone of Scotland’s culture, civic engagement, and urban renewal.
For smart trust to flourish, cultural policy must recognise arts and heritage not just as economic drivers but as vital democratic infrastructures; places where citizens connect and deliberate together.
2. Education as a Tool for Empowered Citizenship
Scotland’s education system, long a cornerstone of its soft power, is crucial not just for knowledge but for nurturing engaged and capable citizens. While the Curriculum for Excellence seeks to combine academic achievement with civic empowerment, declining literacy, numeracy, and science outcomes reveal persistent gaps. Education must equip young people with the analytical, critical, and participatory skills necessary to navigate complex policy issues, evaluate information, and contribute meaningfully to democratic life. Civic empowerment and academic excellence are inseparable: one cannot flourish without the other.
3. Internationalism as an Ethical Anchor
Scotland’s internationalist values are more than global rhetoric; they serve as a moral compass for domestic governance. When outward commitments align with internal policies, citizens experience a coherence that deepens trust.
On climate policy, Scotland has led with ambition, from the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to community-owned renewable projects in places like Orkney. For targets to inspire trust, they must be matched by tangible outcomes: green infrastructure that improves housing and transport, and local training for secure low-carbon jobs.
Openness to migration is reflected in policies fostering integration and cohesion. The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy, Glasgow’s “City of Sanctuary” status, and Edinburgh’s role in the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism illustrate how local action embodies international human rights principles.
Scotland’s global solidarity extends to development partnerships with Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia, prioritising reciprocity rather than paternalism, mutual learning, and collaborative problem-solving to benefit all communities involved.
Applying those same principles at home (through rural broadband expansion, high-quality social housing, or digitalising health services) would reinforce the sense that Scotland’s values are embedded, not conditional. Aligning what is championed abroad with what is delivered at home turns soft power into smart trust, enabling citizens to believe not just in the message, but in its integrity.
Towards a Smart Democracy
Smart trust is no magic wand: it will not resolve constitutional debates overnight or erase political divisions at a stroke. Yet it reframes legitimacy itself, treating trust not as a birthright but as something to be actively cultivated through shared experience.
By deliberately harnessing its soft power – culture, education, and international engagement – Scotland can forge a model of democratic renewal in which participation, learning, and ethical governance are not optional extras, but the very architecture of a resilient and responsive democracy.
Dr Rachel Moreland is a politics and foreign affairs researcher based at the Scottish Parliament. Her work on smart power and US-UK intervention post-9/11 has been featured in Middle East Policy and Middle Eastern Studies. A US-UK dual national, she has resided in Edinburgh for more than a decade.
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