In person icon Crisis of Democracy and Political Participation

Abstract

Contemporary democracies are confronted with critical junctures that give rise to the constant transformation of politics and government-citizen relations. Crises can be classified as either structural or contingent, and may pertain to participation, resource distribution, or collective attitudes. Modern democracies have been engaged in a process of self-positioning in relation to the global economy, emerging technologies, and other challenges that influence and even determine political action. In light of these rapid transformations, democracy cannot be regarded as a static entity, but rather as a processual variable relation between governing institutions and the collectivity. Democratisation and democratic backsliding are the two processes through which contemporary European politics can be analysed, with the latter concerning national and international governance in the context of dense global interdependencies. The panel’s objective is to convene theoretical and empirical inquiries that elucidate the dynamics of democratic governance in evolving times. The panel seeks to explore a range of phenomena, including populism, variations in participation, radicalization of collective political attitudes, and shifts in democratic checks and balances. This analysis aims to contribute to the enrichment of ongoing debates on democratic values and instruments within increasingly complex societies.

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