Stakeholder Distrust - A Construct in Need for Better Understanding

Abstract

Stakeholder literature has only recently turned to analyzing troublesome relationships. Here we argue that this analysis can be enriched by introducing a concept that has been more prominently explored in organization studies: distrust as a distinct concept. We introduce distrust by also differentiating it from related constructs such as suspicion, negative reciprocity and conflicts. We then develop a stakeholder distrust model, whereby we differentiate the most proximate antecedents of stakeholder distrust and how such distrust manifests in distrust-induced behaviors. Following this we explore distrust dynamics, that is, how distrust between stakeholders and the focal organization emerges and develops, spreads across levels and possibly transgresses from suspicion to distrust (or from trust to distrust). Finally, we offer first insights for further research on how stakeholder distrust as a distinct concept can enrich stakeholder analysis, lead to a new perspective on stakeholder engagement practices and enable a profound discussion of stakeholder relationship dynamics.