The role of citizens in defending liberal democracy

Abstract

The global crisis of democracy is nothing new. There is a well-documented history of democratic waves and reversals. What differentiates the current crisis from past regressions is the loss of faith by citizens in established democracy due to a failure of representation across many states. To address this, we need to revisit what constitutes a democratic order substantively, notably in its civic dimension. Numerous scholars and practitioners have begun to look past Schumpeterian or even a Dahlian notions of democracy, and imagine a democratic future that is participatory, deliberative, militant, or contestatory. Do we need to reinvent democracy as a truly public and civic endeavour? What have we learned during the last two decades of democratic backsliding about the capacity of ordinary citizens to protect hard-won democratic gains? At least some democratic theorists (Pateman, Barber, Macpherson) used to believe that civic engagement — from voting to volunteering — is the engine that drives democracy forward, and that robust citizen participation at every level of government provides the input that democratic systems require to be truly responsive. But what happens when people are systemically shut out of deliberation, selectively disenfranchised, disillusioned or simply feel lost in an increasingly digital, AI-influenced world where nothing can be taken for granted, where education, health and the natural environment are all in constant crisis? If liberal democracy cannot defend itself through its institutions, should it be defended by citizens themselves through pressure, protest, vigilance, voice, solidarity, grassroots organizing, raising awareness, and voting out elites that have lost their trust? Is voting out the rascals enough, or must liberal democracy itself be reformed to increase its responsiveness so that citizens feel truly represented, rather than just poorly governed? This panel invites scholarly reflection on these and related questions that are of vital importance not only for our discipline, but also for a wider discussion and audience.