Description
In light of the public and scholarly debates on the challenges and problems of established democracies, such as a lack of participation, declining confidence in political elites, and the deteriorating capabilities of democratic institutions, this volume discusses the question whether democracy as such is in crisis. On the basis of the shared concept of embedded democracy, it develops a range of conceptual approaches to empirically analyzing the challenges of democracy and their potential transformation into crisis phenomena.
The book is divided into three parts, the first of which highlights various aspects of political participation, such as political inequality in voting. In turn, Part II focuses on problems of political representation, while Part III assesses whether processes such as globalization, deregulation, and the withdrawal of the state from important policy areas have limited the political control and legitimacy of democratically electedgovernments.
Table of Contents
Challenges or Crisis of Democracy.- Participation: Crisis of Democracy?- Political Inequality in Voting.- The Quality of Election Manifestos in 21 OECD Countries Since the 1950s.- Are Right-Wing Populist Parties a Threat to Democracy?- Representation: Inequality in Political Representation.- Party Types and the Crisis of Representative Democracy.- Popular Opinions on Inequality and Responsiveness of Political Parties.- Citizens' Perceptions of Government's Autonomy During the Eurozone Crisis.- Governance: Does Denationalization Affect the Quality of Democracy?- The Precarious Balance Between Security and Freedom.- Why Do Established Democracies Violate Human Rights?
