Beyond the Binary

This article provides an analytical review of the collective monograph “Science Communication and Trust”, edited by Antoinette Fage-Butler, Loni Ledderer, and Kristian H. Nielsen. The monograph is distinguished by its interdisciplinary scope and by the integration of both theoretical and empirical approaches. Drawing on one of the book’s central perspectives, the review foregrounds the contemporary socio-epistemological understanding of (dis)trust as a complex, multidimensional, and context-dependent phenomenon, moving beyond the simplistic binary of “trust versus distrust”. I focus on the conceptualization of non-binary (dis)trust – how this perspective is articulated throughout the chapters and how different forms and dynamics of (dis)trust are illustrated through concrete empirical approaches, including quantitative and qualitative research, case studies, and discourse analysis. The study highlights the authors' re-examination of scientific denialism, viewing it as a socially and narratively constructed process in which a specific type of trust – embodied by the “dissident expert” – emerges as a symbol of epistemic democracy. In conclusion, I discuss both strengths and limitations of the book: on the one hand, its non-binary framework enables a nuanced analysis of trust and distrust as they actually circulate in society; on the other hand, this approach can sometimes result in postmodern ambivalence and a lack of clear answers to the challenges considered. Overall, the article emphasizes the theoretical and practical value of the book for scholars in STS, practitioners, and everyone interested in the complexities of public (dis)trust in science in the context of infodemics and socio-political transformations.