Issue The rise of new, participatory governance systems amid compound crises

Summary

Digital transition, the climate crisis, pandemics and geopolitical tension have ushered in an era of compound crises that exposes the limits of top-down, bureaucracy-led policymaking. Because these crises are layered and involve many competing stakeholders, the survey calls for governance in which citizens and local communities contribute through sustained deliberation. Accelerating digital and AI change, stress on global value chains and the rise of extremist politics have heightened concern about a crisis of democracy. Digital tools can make decisions more data-driven, transparent and participatory, but they also widen usage gaps and threaten privacy, so institutions must secure transparency and accountability. The spread of populism and authoritarian leaders feeds public distrust, leaving governance innovation with the task of earning institutional legitimacy.