Rethinking Democracy Support

L democracy, and its promotion, are now facing a set of serious challenges.1 On the one hand, as the Arab Spring demonstrates, democratic aspirations are intensifying, which opens up significant new opportunities for democracy support. On the other hand, in the context of the financial crisis and austerity, levels of funding for democracy aid are being reconsidered, and the credibility and effectiveness of democracy promoters’ work is under renewed scrutiny. Furthermore, a qualitatively new type of challenge has emerged: as a result of the repeated politico-economic crises and changing power balances in the world order, aspects of the ‘liberal democratic’ model traditionally at the heart of democracy promotion are being questioned. This discussion reflects the growth of needs and aspirations that are not readily met by a classical liberal focus on elections and political rights. Calls for dignity, economic justice, local ownership and global democracy require innovative responses from those engaged in democracy support, responses that take account of the emerging discussion over the different meanings and forms democracy can take. The recent questioning of democracy’s meaning has the potential to be an important catalyst in expanding the way democracy is practised at home and supported abroad.