How Do We Think About Our Democracy?

People in Western countries have high expectations for democracy: Many people only consider it to be a good thing if it also produces good results for the citizens of the country. At the same time, a significant portion of the people in Germany, France, the UK, Poland, and the USA have no strong relationship to their democracy – even if the vast majority fundamentally say “yes” to this form of government. They don’t feel a direct connection between their lives and the democratic state. This leads in part to contented indifference, but also to feelings ranging from disorientation to sympathy for authoritarian alternatives.

For the study “It’s Complicated: People and Their Democracy in Germany, France, Britain, Poland, and the United States,” the organization More in Common travelled around the world and interviewed approximately 10,000 people in five countries about their understanding of democracy. What expectations do people have of democracy? What do they want from it, and what challenges do they face when it comes to democracy? On the basis of their responses, the study illustrates the current societal dynamics around the subject of democracy. In addition, it identifies starting points for politics and civil society through which the relationship of trust between them and their citizens can be strengthened. 

“The results of the study don’t allow us to say ‘keep it up,’” says Sandra Breka, CEO of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. “The ambivalence and indifference of many citizens of Western democracies, combined with their disappointment, needs to be taken seriously and addressed. Many people feel that their concerns are not being heard and that their voices don’t make any difference. This result should prompt us to think and move us to take action.”