WHAT NEXT FOR DEMOCRACY? An International Survey by the Fondation pour l’Innovation Politique. (original) (raw)

2017, Fondation pour l'Innovation Politique

The survey "What next for democracy?", which conducted 22,041 interviews in 26 countries, was designed by the Fondation pour l’innovation politique, and the polling institute Ipsos was in charge of running it. All the results can be viewed in 23 languages* as open data on the Fondation pour l’innovation politique website (http://data.fondapol.org/democratie/ou-va-la-democratie/). Over the past several years, signs of destabilisation in the democratic world have been abundant. High abstention rates and the populist vote are eroding governments’ electoral bases and their legitimacy, while a process of regression towards authoritarian methods of government can be seen in some central and eastern European countries. Older liberal democracies have also been tempted to follow this path through their security policies and, in particular, counter-terrorism measures. Moreover, democracies are faced with the powerful effects of the historic transition that is now epitomised by the notion of ‘globalisation’. There is no doubt that the processes of global dispersion and reconstruction are closely linked to the destabilisation of democratic systems. Democracy is part of a bigger picture. A specific sequence of events allowed the emergence, establishment and entrenchment of the democratic political system. By profoundly changing the world, an alternative solution would also inevitably change the democratic system and perhaps spell its end. It is therefore important to consider the potential erosion of democracy and examine the current situation and potential future of a method of government based on the radical, spectacular and unique idea of allowing citizens to choose their governments. The turbulent period we have seen over the past quarter of a century raises serious questions concerning the concept of democracy.

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