Distrust: The Neglected Construct in Stakeholder Relations

Stakeholder literature has only recently turned to analyze troublesome relationships. Based on our literature review we propose that the introduction of stakeholder distrust as “unwillingness to be vulnerable” is distinct from related constructs such as suspicion, negative reciprocity, and low trust. Furthermore, we develop a stakeholder distrust model by determining the most proximate antecedents and distrust-induced consequences. 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.