THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRACY: POPULISM, POLARIZATION, AND THE DECLINE OF TRUST IN INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Democratic systems worldwide are experiencing a period of profound strain. The optimistic triumphalism that followed the Cold War has given way to an era of democratic recession and internal crisis. This paper argues that contemporary democratic instability is not a result of a single cause but a synergistic crisis driven by the interconnected forces of populism, intense political polarization, and a deep seated erosion of trust in core institutions. These three phenomena form a mutually reinforcing feedback loop that undermines the liberal democratic consensus. Populism frames established institutions as illegitimate, polarization turns political disagreement into existential conflict, and institutional distrust provides the fertile ground for both to flourish. This paper examines the ontological foundations of this crisis, tracing its roots to economic dislocation, cultural anxiety, and the transformative impact of the digital public sphere. It concludes that addressing this crisis requires moving beyond technical institutional fixes to engage in the more difficult task of rebuilding a shared democratic culture and reinventing institutions capable of earning public confidence in the 21st century.

Keywords: Democracy, Populism, Polarization, Trust, Institutions, Democratic Recession.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17559807