Is democracy worth saving? Responding to the erosion of democracy philosophical debates have
pivoted from analyzing the best forms of democracy to questioning what is so valuable about
democracy to begin with how we can save it and whether it is indeed worth saving.
Contemporary Democratic Theory charts this pivot and surveys the most important new
developments in the philosophical theoretical and normative examination of the concept of
democracy. Comparisons that dominated 20th century democratic theory - between direct democracy
participatory democracy deliberative democracy and agonistic democracy - are in the 21st
century giving way to comparisons between democracy and its challengers: epistocracy
technocracy meritocracy oligarchy and autocracy. Philosophical interest in the canonical
figures of democratic theory like Aristotle Rousseau and Mill is being eclipsed by damage
control in the face populism sinking trust in democratic institutions failing political
parties and the spread of misinformation. Overarching epochal forces of crisis and threat are
pushing democratic theory in new directions and towards new ideas. This refreshing and
authoritative text identifies explains and evaluates the new directions taken by contemporary
democratic theory in challenging times.
