This episode examines the challenges facing "real-existing democracies" (REDs), defined as self-proclaimed democratic systems recognized internationally and meeting standard democratic criteria. The author of the discussed paper, Philippe C. Schmitter, argues that while REDs have expanded globally, they face crises of declining citizen trust and engagement. He identifies historical transformations of democracy and discusses two contemporary revolutions: the rise of powerful organizations as key political actors and the professionalization of politics. Schmitter proposes reforms to address these issues, focusing on enhancing citizen participation and accountability, including novel suggestions such as lotteries attached to elections and a citizen's assembly. Ultimately, he contends that democracy must adapt and change to remain legitimate.

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