A REDIRECT-related panel examining the future of representative democracy was held at the European Consortium for Political Research General Conference 2024. The panel was chaired by John Erik Fossum (University of Oslo) and featured contributions from scholars exploring emerging challenges facing contemporary democratic systems.
The papers presented in the panel addressed a range of issues shaping the future of representative democracy, including the rise of conspiracy theories, the decline of traditional left-wing parties and the tendency of democratic systems toward short-term political decision-making. Drawing on these developments, the discussion considered possible future scenarios for advanced democracies and the institutional and political conditions needed to sustain representative politics.
The panel also revisited the role of democratic listening in highly polarized political environments, exploring how renewed practices of dialogue and responsiveness might contribute to strengthening representative relationships between citizens and political institutions.
Date: 15 August 2024
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Partner: University of Oslo (UIO)
#RepresentativeDemocracy #PoliticalInstitutions #DemocraticReform #PoliticalScience #ECPR #REDIRECT