'Makes a strong and provocative argument that as democracy has spread to more nations internationally, it has become hollowed out as a means of popular governance. This is a significant book that asks important questions and its synthesis of diverse literatures makes a valuable contribution to the on-going debate on how democracy is changing.' - Russell Dalton, University of California, Irvine, USA 'A comprehensive survey of the changing practices and citizen reactions to them in the 'real-existing' democracies of Western Europe and North America. The author finds plenty of evidence for crises, some opportunities for reform, but no compelling, overriding trajectory - either toward decline or revival. He does, however, come up with four major challenges that are likely to determine the outcome. I would not be surprised if this work provides the theoretical and conceptual framework for what is going to be the most controversial issue in political science for some time to come.' - Philippe C. Schmitter, European University Institute, Italy 'In this important book, Yannis Papadopoulos offers a comprehensive and troubling picture of current challenges to democracy. The central role of parties and parliaments is under threat from unaccountable administrators, technocrats, judges, cooperative governance, claimant groups, and transnational rule-makers. The situation is not hopeless. But efforts to create a more deliberative and participatory democracy need to start by exploring the depth of our democratic deficit. Papadopoulos is the best guide to that exploration.' - Joshua Cohen, Stanford University, USA
