FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY (original) (raw)

The Future of Democracy: introduction

2015

In this article the special issue on the future of democracy is introduced with a discussion of the rationale and a brief overview of the contributions that follow. In addition the authors highlight four major themes that run through the special issue. These themes are: the measurement of democracy, the importance of time and context for understanding democracy, the importance of institutions in the process of democratization, and the differential role of government and opposition in democracy. The article finishes with a conclusion about the plural nature and possible futures for democracy.

The Future of Democracy: Challenges & Prospects

Unprecedented speed, interconnectivity, complexity and uncertainty are impacting all spheres of global society today, presenting challenges that were not foreseen even a few years ago. The end of the Cold War was interpreted by many as the final victory for democracy and capitalism over authoritarian socialism. A quarter century after the sudden collapse of communism and the emergence of a new democratic consensus, liberal democracy itself is under threat. Former bastions of democracy are exhibiting a level of populism and polarization previously associated only with nascent, tenuous democracies in countries with low levels of education and economic development. The shared vision that constituted the foundation for the democratic consensus is breaking down. Doubts, fears and insecurity have shaken faith in the institutions of governance and the confidence of youth in a better future. Nations are closing their borders, retreating from global cooperation, and casting the blame on minorities and foreigners in a manner reminiscent of an earlier century. Participants in the WAAS Roundtable on the Future of Democracy at Dubrovnik on April 3-5, 2018 recognized that this shift in direction is the result of a complex nexus of forces that have been shaping the future for decades. The group shared valuable insights into our present dilemma while maintaining the diversity of perspective essential for understanding a complex, multidimensional global phenomenon still in the process of unfolding. The discussion identified numerous practical steps that can be taken to moderate extreme aberrations resulting from the misuse of social power. It also recognized that fundamental changes are needed to develop more effective systems of governance capable of fully supporting the aspirations of humanity, maximizing the equity and effectiveness of social institutions and the future evolution of global society.

Changing Politics: Towards a New Democracy

2015

In October 2014 the PSA joint-funded a Consultation event ‘Changing Politics – Towards a New Democracy’ with St. George’s House. The Chair of the PSA, Professor Matthew Flinders, chaired the event which brought together participants from a range of fields (including academics, think tankers and practitioners in several policy areas). Today, St. George’s House has published a report which highlights the main themes emerging from the discussion as well as some conclusions and recommendations. It identifies several areas where changes are urgently needed to reinvigorate democracy. The report concludes that to fully succeed in addressing the growth of political apathy and disengagement, parties and leaders must forget their differences and join citizens, academics, charities and others to address this problem with all available energy and resources.

Why Elections Are the Problem and How to Make Democracy Real

Representative democracy is in crisis. Legislatures do not accurately reflect all sectors of society. Ordinary citizens should have more say than merely pulling a ballot lever once every few years. A government that is merely ‘for’ the people is not any longer good enough. It is time to institute a government that is also ‘by’ and ‘of’ the people. The original Athenian democracy used a method altogether different than elections to select its officials. They used the system now used to select citizens for jury duty -- sortition. This essay reflects upon how the lessons from that first democracy might be used to develop a ‘legislative jury’ capable of representing all citizens without regard to party affiliation, financial status or any ideology other than fair play. Includes appendix with links, bibliography, how to hold a workshop and access to other goods and services.

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

Fondation pour l'Innovation Politique, 2017

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.