Mark McKergow
Conventional democracy does not serve the community or neighbourhood level well. We must find alternative ways to facilitate inclusive action, support those seeking to make a difference (often with tiny resources), and build co-operation. Mark McKergow and Jenny Clarke set out key features of neighbourhood democracy, and suggest relevant practices as inspiration Read more
Jaap Hoeksma
The EU has evolved from a union of democratic States into a European democracy. Jaap Hoeksma argues this sheds fresh light on the Kantian quest for perpetual peace. It demonstrates that the Westphalian system of international relations should give way to a model of democratic global governance Read more
Georgios Samaras
With the 21 May election in Greece fast approaching, Georgios Samaras examines the recent surge of ultranationalism in Greek politics. He argues that a process of normalisation of far-right practices is taking place, as echoed in other European countries, including Hungary and Italy Read more
Luke Martell
Socialist democracy includes but can go beyond the state, class, and socialism. Luke Martell argues it should overcome dichotomous thinking in favour of a pluralist socialism of diverse values, approaches, democratic forms, and levels of organisation Communism, social democracy, cooperative, and democratic socialism This blog contributes to The Loop's Science of Democracy series by delving […] Read more
Juliane Reinecke
The 2013 Rana Plaza disaster led to an unprecedented initiative based on principles of industrial democracy to prevent future factory deaths in the Bangladesh garment sector. Yet, write Juliane Reinecke and Jimmy Donaghey, the success of the initiative depends on whether transnational and local actors cooperate and whether a market-driven approach to labour rights renders effective in the absence of a disaster Read more
Fabio Angiolillo
Party-based regimes are the most durable autocracies. Although there exist stronger and weaker ruling parties depending on the elite-leader relationship, the attitude of party-based regimes towards citizens also matters to their nature. Fabio Angiolillo argues that ruling parties’ recruitment strategies in autocracies can facilitate a much deeper understanding of party-based autocracies Read more
Marcel Lewandowsky
Marcel Lewandowsky argues that much research on populism suffers from that a contextual blind spot: it overlooks the broad variety of illiberal attitudes of which populism is only one variant. Here, he calls for more research on this ‘invisible coalition’ of illiberal attitudes Read more
Karen Celis
Fixing numbers is not enough. In their second-generation design for inclusive democracy, Karen Celis and Sarah Childs refashion representation processes to incentivise elected representatives to care more for diverse citizens. The designed-for effects? Experiencing better representation ‘in the round’, the most marginalised feeling recognised by and connected with democratic politics Read more
