Repairing Democracy. The Remedies for the Crisis of Liberal Democracy in Europe.

The crisis of liberal democracy was heralded years ago (Castells 2018; Berman 2019). Yet it is the recent decade that demonstrates the growing departure from democratic standards globally and in Europe (Nord et al. 2025). This is also visible in the growing contestation of the tenets of liberal democracy by populist forces becoming more powerful in shifting the discourse on democracy (Brack, Coman, 2025). Scholars analysing representative democracy have been debating the determinants of crises that affect both public perceptions and the expectations of political actors, stressing, among others, economic disparities (Warren 2025). The themes at the core of this debate capture the components of representative disconnect (Castiglione 2024), including such phenomena as the increased distrust between citizens and politicians (Bertsou 2019), the decline of partisanship and party identity (Mair 2013; Elliott 2024), increased polarisation, and the weakening and volatility of political attachment and political participation. The crisis did not spare European democracy, including the EU’s institutions, which failed to respond effectively to internal democratic crises, such as the rule-of-law crisis (Theus 2024). All this is intrinsically linked to the impact of social media and online platforms on contemporary democracies. The debate also ensued concerning how to mend democracy (Hendriks, Ercan, Boswell 2020). The proposals encompass the introduction of participatory and deliberative mechanisms that allow citizens to better express their preferences (Warren 2025; Hendriks 2023; Kohler-Koch et al, 2013; Mansbridge 2003); the provision of innovative approaches and tools for political parties (Sandri et al. 2024); and the advancement of alternative ways of mobilising citizens, including reinvigorating civil society (McMahon, Pickering & Pietrzyk-Reeves, 2024). Attention is paid to civic education and the young generations. One of such extraordinary exercises was the Conference on the Future of Europe, initiated by the EU institutions in 2021. The crisis of democracy and strategies to repair broken elements are not located in a vacuum. Contemporary democracies are under constant pressure from outside and internally by non-democratic actors. Growing hostility in international relations results in an increased use of instruments aimed at destabilising societies in democratic countries through polarisation and disinformation. The elaborated strategies are employed by adversaries. At the same time, the role of anti-democratic forces within liberal democracies is critical in undermining the value of democracy and promoting illiberal imagination (Krzyżanowski, Krzyżanowska 2024). The aim of the proposed section is to create a forum for discussions of the key strategies of reconnecting citizens and political institutions for the sake of liberal democratic systems. The strategies of institutions of the EU, aiming at the protection of democratic systems such as the European Democracy Shield, the regulation of the digital media, introducing formats etc., will also add perspective on who and how can and shall react to the crisis. Scope of panels and papers at this section. This Section will explore key themes in democratic politics, focusing on reconnecting citizens with democratic systems, participatory and deliberative mechanisms, citizens’ views on the decline of democracy, the role of civil society actors and party politics, and countering external and internal undermining of democratic systems across national, regional, and international contexts. In addition, we also welcome panels and papers proposing new theoretical approaches to studying strategies of repairing democracy. Incorporating diverse perspectives, the panels will feature a range of theoretical and methodological approaches. We invite submissions of papers from scholars and practitioners across disciplines who are interested in the crisis of democracy and mending strategies. We especially welcome panels including young scholars and researchers. In general, preference will be given to fully formed panels (including chair and discussant) that bring together participants from different institutions and/or countries. All-male panels will not be considered. Panel and paper proposals can focus on any aspect of issues related to combating the crisis of democracy and draw on the following themes (not an exhaustive list): • Theoretical papers identifying and assessing puzzles and frames to be offered to future research on repairing democracy. • Papers and panels on the rise of the actors contesting liberal democracy and their influence on political systems, especially in promoting illiberal imagination. • Papers on civic engagement and activism as responses to democratic erosion. • Panels and papers discussing in a comparative mode current views of citizens and political elites concerning the crisis of democracy. • Analysis of results from innovative approaches to addressing the democratic crisis. • Papers and panels focusing on the disconnection in representation within parliaments and on weakening the role of parliaments. • Methodological panels and papers related to studying a crisis of democracy, representation, and party politics.