As socioeconomic inequality rises, trust in institutions declines, authoritarian populist movements emerge, misinformation spreads more rapidly and online debates become more polarized, democracy is faced with multiple crises. Are we witnessing the end of democracy? Réinventer la démocratie explores the idea that the political system is in the midst of a major crisis, but one which provides the perfect opportunity to examine the origins of the democratic ideal. At the local democratic level—more specifically at the municipal institution level—we can experiment with innovative forms of public deliberation, civic engagement, and collective intelligence.

Following an analysis of the origins of and current crises facing democracy, Jonathan Durand Folco outlines some possible solutions using institutional innovations, strategies, and new practices that can be implemented at the local level. Due primarily to their proximity, municipalities are the perfect place for doing democratic experiments, resolving concrete problems, and potentially incorporating collective intelligence. The author offers a critical analysis of various local participatory mechanisms and finally addresses the question of the “virtues” that can be deployed to strengthen the primary tenets of democracy—engagement, deliberation, representation, inclusion, and collective intelligence. Rather than dwell on the intricacies of today’s society, this book acts instead as a compass to illuminate the paths of democratic emancipation.

Series edited by: Pierre Beaudet