The panel discusses the importance of associational capabilities and civic action in building citizen trust in democratic institutions. It examines the impact of differences in associational capabilities across regions in India and Pakistan and its impact on trust in democracy. It also discusses the types of institutions that are needed in democratic polities to strengthen associational capabilities and build trust in the political system.

Gabrielle Kruks-Wisner is an Assistant Professor of Politics & Global Studies at the University of Virginia. Patrick Heller is the Lyn Crost Professor of Social Sciences and professor of Sociology and International Studies at Brown University. Shandana Khan Mohmand is a Research Fellow at IDS Sussex. Umair Javed is an Assistant Professor of Political Sociology at LUMS and a Fellow of MHRC.