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118 | Anna Unger regardless of their democratic or autocratic nature, and also of their national or international levels. In fact, what could probably offer more promising prospects is to replace the idea of liberal democracy with the idea of pluralist democracy. The very nature of pluralist democracy is that no actor, ideology, politician, or social group (race, party, tribe, or class) can be in a hegemonic position. In this respect, pluralism refers to a constant competition among interests, values, ideologies, and people for adequate representation, for a given share of power, and access to political decision-making (Dahl 1971). In my view, this kind of pluralist democracy is not built on the safeguards of constitutional liberalism and the key institutions of representative democracy, but also includes other popular (‘by the people’) processes in political decision-making and deliberations. Of course, we have to admit that this kind of democracy is probably less ‘calm’ and promises neither perpetual peace, nor ultimate victory to any actor, only some kind of equilibrium in politics and society. Nevertheless, it deserves to be given a chance. Key concepts and terms Constitutional liberalism Democracy/liberal democracy/pluralist democracy Democratic erosion Depoliticisation Dissatisfaction (with democracy) Globalisation/neoliberalism Illiberalism Political polarisation Populism Technocracy Bibliography Art, David. 2020. “The Myth of Global Populism.” Perspective on Politics, 1-13. DOT: 10.1017/S1537592720003552 Berman, Sheri. 2017. “The pipe dream of undemocratic liberalism.” Journal of Democracy 28(3): 29-38. Berman, Sheri. 2011. “The past and future of social democracy and the consequences for democracy promotion? In The Conceptual Politics of Democracy Promotion, edited by Christopher Hobson and Milja Kurki. London, New York: Routledge. 68-84. Berman, Sheri, and Hans Kundnani. 2021. “The Cost of Convergence.” Journal of Democracy 32(1): 22-36.
