TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION               i
ACKNOWLEDGMENT               iii
ABSTRACT               v
ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS               vii
LIST OF FIGURES               ix

Chapter I: Contextual Approach of Mistrust
I.1 Introduction               1
I.2 Background to the study               1
I.3 Problem Statement               2
I.4 The purpose of the research               3
I.5 Research objectives               3
I.6 Research question               4
I.7 Hypothesis               4
I.8 Significance of the Study               5
I.9 Definition of key concept               5
I.10 Organization of the Thesis               8

Chapter II: Understanding Trust Between the People and the State
II.1 About the concept of trust               9
II.2 Trust in the state               11
II.3 Factors of trust in the state               12
II.4 Rationale for citizens to judge the state’s actions               17
II.5 Drivers of people’s trust in the state               18
II.6 Effects of decrease in trus               19

Chapter III: Methodology
III.1 Introduction               23
III.2 Research question               23
III.3 Research design               23
III.4 Population of the research               24
III.5 Sample design               24
III.6 Sample size               25
III.7 Sources of data               26
III.8 Data collection method and tools               26
III.9 Measurement of variables               27
III.10 Validity and reliability of the research instrument              28
III.11 Data analysis method               28
III.12 Ethical consideration                29

Chapter IV: Presentation of Findings
IV.1 Introduction             31
IV.2 Demographic analysis               31
   IV.2.1 Survey in the eight provinces of Niger               31
   IV.2.2 Experts’ participation to the survey               36
IV.3 Presentation of findings               38
IV.3.1 Niger’s people’s perception               38
   IV.3.1.i The extent of the crisis of trust between citizens and the state in the Sahel and particularly in Niger               38
   IV.3.1.ii The motives for the public’s crisis of confidence in the state in the Sahel               41
   IV.3.1.iii Towards state legitimacy and governance enhancement               44
IV.3.2 Expert contribution to the research               47
   IV.3.2.i Motivation for the people’s distrust in the state               47
   IV.3.2.ii Factors contributing to the loss of legitimacy of democratically- elected state authorities in the Sahel               60
   IV.3.2.iii Suggestions of the way out for the state to regain trust and legitimacy from citizens               54

Chapter V: Discussion of Findings
V.1 Introduction               61
V.2 Research objective 1: The extent and nature of the lack of trust between citizens and the state in the Sahel               61
V.3 Research objective 2: The motives for the public’s crisis of confidence in the state and vice versa               63
V.4 Research objective 3: The ways out of the crisis of trust to build state legitimacy and improve governance               68

Chapter VI:Conclusion, Recommendations, Area of Further Research
VI.1 Introduction                71
VI.2 General conclusion               71
VI.3 Recommendations               73
   VI.3.1 Recommendations for Strengthening Citizen- State Trust and Governance               73
   VI.3.2 Recommendations on state priority actions to enhance Legitimacy and Good Governance               74
   VI.3.3 Recommendations to the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Media               77
   VI.3.4 Recommendation to the International Community               78
VI.4 Proposed area of further research               78

BIBLIOGRAPHY               79