September 29, 2025Open Access

Introduction to Issue: Democracy and its Challenges – A Cross-cultural Comparison

Key Points

Democratic legitimacy is increasingly eroded in various contexts, undermining overall governance and stability.
Key factors contributing to this decline include corruption, inequality, and the spread of disinformation in society.
Cross-regional insights reveal the urgent need to rethink how democratic legitimacy can be reinforced globally.
The collection of articles illustrates the varied effects of these issues on democratic performance within different cultures.

Abstract

This special issue, Democracy and its Challenges: A Cross-cultural Comparison, explores the erosion of democratic legitimacy in a rapidly shifting global order. Topics include the liberal international order, democratic backsliding, religion’s role in legitimising inequality, disinformation, criminal governance and dominant party decline. Together, the articles highlight how poor governance, corruption, inequality and misinformation undermine democratic resilience across diverse contexts. By integrating cross-regional perspectives, the collection underscores the urgency of rethinking democratic legitimacy and performance in the face of global and domestic challenges.

Introduction to Issue: Democracy and its Challenges – A Cross-cultural Comparison

Key Points

Abstract

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