The Role of Accountability and Transparency on Public Trust in Modern Governance

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of accountability and transparency in shaping public trust in the context of modern governance. Using a narrative study approach, this study examines various empirical and conceptual findings from Google Scholar-indexed literature over the past five years. The results of the study show that accountability and transparency are two mutually reinforcing pillars of governance that have a significant influence on the legitimacy, credibility, and effectiveness of public institutions. Transparency has been shown to have a stronger direct influence on perceptions of government honesty and integrity, while accountability emphasizes the moral responsibility and performance of institutions in meeting public expectations. Public trust is formed when these two values are implemented consistently, participatively, and based on public ethics, not merely as administrative formalities. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of public governance reform that integrates information disclosure, citizen participation, and accountability values as a strategy for building social legitimacy and maintaining the sustainability of public trust in government institutions.