Introduction to Issue: <i>Democracy and its Challenges – A Cross-cultural Comparison</i>

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.