Rethinking democracy

Rethinking democracy

From Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes by ECFR

May 8, 2026 · 37 min

About this episode

Mark Leonard and David Runciman discuss the evolving nature of democracy amidst global challenges.

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by David Runciman , British political theorist and philosopher, to explore whether today’s sense of crisis really marks the end of democracy—or something more complex. As the global order fragments, Runciman argues that democracy itself is not disappearing, but the forces shaping the world no longer fit the model that worked for the past 50 years. From shifting demographics and rising inequality, to a transforming technological landscape, together Mark and David explore why systems that once seemed stable are now under strain. In a world which is both more and less democratic, liberal states face pressure from within and without. Rather than predicting collapse, the discussion asks how democracies can evolve. What needs to change and what happens if it doesn’t? Bookshelf Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse by Luke Kemp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Mark Leonard

Guest: David Runciman

Topics covered

  • democracy
  • political theory
  • global order
  • inequality
  • technological change
  • evolution of systems

Keywords

  • democracy
  • crisis
  • political theory
  • global order
  • inequality
  • technology
  • evolution

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ECFR

Books & works: Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse

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