The notion of trust is one of the most topical issues in current social science. In many western countries, this higher profile may stem, in part, from the seeming erosion of popular trust held in government, religious organisations or even institutions like the family that has been frequently documented in public opinion polls in recent years. What is more, the experience of widespread popular distrust in the political and economic systems of eastern and central Europe, and their ultimate breakdown in the late 1980s, may have contributed to a general sentiment that trust is a fragile element of modern societies (Beck, 1992). Although we could add many more examples – from political scandals and fraudulent businesses to professional malpractice – many “cultural diagnoses” suggests that trust is a problematic element of the modern zeitgeist (Habermas, 1985).