Democracy in the Global South faces mounting pressures and demands urgent rethinking. Despite widespread transitions to multiparty democracy since the 1990s, many states in Africa, Asia and Latin America have struggled to consolidate democratic governance. Corruption, electoral manipulation, human rights abuses and unmet socio-economic expectations have deepened citizen disillusionment, weakening trust in institutions and fuelling demands for alternative political arrangements.

This discussion paper examines the limitations inherent in liberal democracy, investigates alternative political systems that emphasize citizen involvement and empowerment, and identifies the conceptual, structural and institutional indicators that are crucial for reassessing democratic systems.