Introduction: Myths about democracy
1. Myth 1: Democracy cannot be defined
2. Myth 2: Democracy has been in grave decline for decades
3. Myth 3: Democracy originated in ancient Athens
4. Myth 4: Democracy is incompatible with major religions
5. Myth 5: Democracy is only for Western countries
6. Myth 6: Democracy is ineffective
7. Myth 7: Democracy’s interwar history repeating itself
Conclusions: A call for moderation and consistent commitment
Biography
Jørgen Møller is Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University, Denmark.
Svend-Erik Skaaning is Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University, Denmark.
"This provocative book provides a great service to scholars and the broader public by convincingly debunking several misconceptions that depict modern democracy as seriously limited or in terminal decline. By countering global alarmism, Møller and Skaaning, in their admirably wide-ranging discussion, offer a balanced assessment of the current conditions and future prospects of political liberalism. Highly recommended!"
Kurt Weyland, University of Texas at Austin, USA
"Drawing on their vast historical and empirical knowledge, as well as conceptual and theoretical expertise, Jørgen Møller and Svend-Erik Skaaning have written a very insightful and brilliantly communicated book about democracy. Summed up as responses to seven myths, the book provides a much-needed corrective to current (and past) discourses about democracy, its origins, feebleness, ineffectiveness, and suitability across different contexts. Democracy is not on the brink of disappearing, despite recent troubles. And, contrary to widespread views, it is neither an inherent “western” mode of governance nor does it spell trouble for social and economic development. This book deserves to be widely read, and its insights and messages should be taken to heart both by academics and policymakers working with democracy-related questions."
Carl Henrik Knutsen, University of Oslo, Norway
