After the triumphs of the twentieth century, many observers now argue that democracy is in global decline. Alarmist media reports and the apocalyptic rhetoric of centrist politicians have encouraged academic discussions of democratic ‘backsliding’ and the growth of populism and ‘illiberalism’. Diagnosis is often followed by attempts to prognosticate democracy’s future.

The study of the history of democracy invites us to question this straightforward narrative of decline. As a system of government, democracy has suffered many crises in the past, and the meaning of the term ‘democracy’ itself has shifted dramatically. An appreciation of the varied history of democracy will make us better equipped to analyze and understand the political challenges of the twenty-first century.

The History of Democracy research hub is an informal and welcoming group that considers histories of democratic life and politics from a range of perspectives on the worlds of actions, institutions, and ideas. We are interested not only in the origin, development and expansion of modern democracy, but also in democracy’s prehistory and its alternatives. We take a broad approach to the history of democracy, including topics such as state-building, governmental institutions, international relations, parties and popular mobilization, elites, intellectuals and the media, citizenship, human rights, borders and much more.