Democracy: Problems and challenges, opportunities and design

The aim of this chapter is to provide a clear account of the existing evidence on public attitudes and forms of democratic engagement. Additionally, it aims to provide a contrast to recent of ‘crisis’, ‘suicide’, ‘decline’ and ‘endism’ associated with democracy. It looks beneath the data to explore some of the underlying drivers of disaffection and how they link to broader concerns regarding global governance. It presents an account of democratic decline and retrenchment towards a protectionist model of populist democracy that is often fuelled by concerns regarding the existence of increasingly globalised powers and pressures. That said, this chapter is less pessimistic and more provocative in arguing that, if the history of democracy demonstrates one core feature, it its capacity for adaptation and evolution. So, we hope to demonstrate not only challenges but also the opportunities for democracy in the future and the role of the social and political sciences within that process.