Democracy on the Precipice - Council of Europe Democracy Debates 2011-12

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Democracy is well-established in most European countries, yet there is growing dissatisfaction and mistrust of democratic institutions, worsened by the economic crisis. This situation raises questions about whether Europe’s democracies are truly under threat and if the traditional model has reached its limits. A consensus is emerging on the urgent need to investigate the origins of this crisis and to explore strategies for rebuilding confidence in democracy. As the guardian of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, the Council of Europe is dedicated to examining the state of European democracy and identifying new challenges and future trends. To facilitate this reflection, the Council organized a series of Democracy Debates featuring experts from diverse fields. This publication compiles the eight lectures from these debates, each analyzing a specific aspect of contemporary democracy. The presentations contextualize issues politically and address historical, technological, and communication dimensions. The authors propose improvements for democratic governance and predict the future evolution of democracy in Europe. Collectively, these insights enhance our understanding of democracy today and highlight ways to protect and strengthen it.