Prospects for Democracy: North, South, East, West

Many Western states are experiencing growing popular disillusionment with the ability of the democratic system to respond to their needs and aspirations and to exercise adequate control over the activities of government and politicians. This disaffection is often linked to social and ethnic movements seeking to redraw the boundaries of the state from within and to a perception of the state’s impotence in the face of economic, social, military, and environmental problems of an increasingly international nature. This comprehensive overview of democracy across the globe explores its nature and future through theoretical analyses and a wide-ranging set of case studies.