The trend of decline in representative forms of democratic governance is manifested in the decrease in voter turnout and distrust in political institutions. Recent statistics from the European Union and its member states indicate that only 34% of citizens trust their national governments or parliament. These challenges of democracy have inspired a wide variety of democratic innovations, which enhance public engagement in political decision-making, increase dialogue among groups and individuals, and promote sustainable decision-making. Democratic innovations can enable countries to face global societal challenges, such as economic inequality and climate change, in a democratic, fair and just manner. This document aims to:
1) Describe the current challenges facing democracy
2) Demonstrate how democratic innovations can help to meet these challenges