The contradictions of democracy ‐ structural paradoxes and the erosion of collective agency. Insights from the Transatlantic Research Lab on Complex Societal Challenges
Democratic systems are often seen as resilient, yet today they reach their limits: polarization, loss of trust, and digital discourses undermine their capacity to act. In this article, we explore how structural contradictions and communicative double binds challenge democratic practice ‐ and ask which new forms of participation are needed to secure future viability.
Authors
- Susanne Strohmaier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9387-2056)
- Filippina Risopoulos-Pichler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2114-2759)
- Shade T. Shutters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8072-4134)
- Eva Schernhammer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4337-9415)
- Dina Ziganshina Lienhard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1574-6350)
- Gerald Steiner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3340-3941)
- Martin Bertau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1236-1164)
- Emilie Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3064-1277)
- Lukas Zenk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8354-1747)
- Manfred D. Laubichler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6152-0251)
- Manfred Schlosser
Publication Details
- Journal
- GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
- Published
- 2025-10-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.34.3.104
- Primary Topic
- Political Science Research and Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00