Democratic Crossroads: Transformations Twenty First-Century Politics in Bloomington, MN

After more than a decade of democratic regression, three major crises have acted to reshape global politics in recent years: climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic legacy, and geopolitical conflict. In
Democratic Crossroads
, Richard Youngs argues these crises are altering the balance between democratic and authoritarian dynamics around the world. Yet while they add to the strains on democracy, they are also awakening a momentum of democratic resilience and renewal. He argues that to deal with the era's momentous challenges, democratic politics need a major boost and reboot. Without stronger commitments to uphold and improve democratic norms and practices, democracy may not weather these challenges. As Youngs shows, far-reaching democratic innovation that gives citizens effective influence over epoch-defining matters will help ensure that democratic values are more vigorously defended. In a moment of pivotal change, this book explains how democracies can retain their resiliency and highlights the key factors that will determine democracy's fortunes in the future.