The future of democracy

Democracy in Europe is a success story – and a cause for concern. Immediately after the conclusion of the European Convention in June 2003, the 126th Bergedorf Round Table in Florence analysed national und European perspectives on the future of democracy. The findings were definite: Traditional political institutions are losing influence due to the increasing dominance of economics over politics. National democracies and the European Union are facing the same fundamental problems: slackening voter turnout, populism and lack of real political alternatives. How can democracy regain its efficiency and legitimacy? Politicians and experts develop solutions for national and European democracies. Doing so, they draw on lessons learned form the founding of the USA and identify useful proposals in the European draft constitution. Key questions are how traditional policy-making processes can be combined productively with new approaches and how politicians and the media can support the creation of a European public sphere.