Democracy at the Crossroads - Challenges for Governance and Representation

This book examines the complex challenges confronting modern democratic systems. Amid rising political fragmentation, polarisation, societal diversity, democratic backsliding, technological advances, economic stagnation, and environmental crises, it explores the nuances of democratic governance and how representative institutions can strengthen their resilience. It provides new insights into traditional models of democratic delegation through a series of studies on how legislative bodies function and interact with the executive, especially during government formation. Later chapters focus on minority representation, analysing conditions that promote political inclusion for women, migrants, and LGBT individuals, particularly in legislative institutions. The final section discusses the radical right’s growth and addresses how political systems confront environmental issues, connecting themes of representation and sustainability. This book honours Thomas Saalfeld, a prominent scholar in legislative politics, government formation, and minority representation.

This volume is highly relevant for scholars and students interested in comparative politics, political representation, legislative behaviour, and European politics more broadly.