This article looks at social and political trust during democratization and in new democracies. First, it defines the dimensions and types of trust that are most relevant in the context of systemic change. Second, it shows the consequences of (dis)trust for consolidation of new democracies. Third, it discusses the impact of authoritarian legacies and of the political and economic transformation on social and political trust. In particular, it points to the trusteroding effect of corruption, social and economic inequalities and ethnic conflicts that most democratizations are associated with. Finally, using cross—national surveys, it reconstructs the trends of social and political trust in new democracies around the world. It concludes pointing out that although trust is not necessary for countries to democratize, low levels of trust are likely to be linked to democratic backsliding. Key words: social trust, political trust, democratization, authoritarian, corruption, ethnic conflict, inequality, post-communist