zombie-democracies
The concept of 'zombie democracies' refers to political systems where democratic processes have become performative spectacles, with citizens reduced to passive observers rather than active participants.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma (2023)Mustafa Suleyman; Michael Bhaskar
Chapter 9, "The Grand Bargain," explores the conceptual and practical complexities of the nation-state as a powerful yet fictional construct, emphasizing its role in governance despite inherent contradictions in sovereignty and trust. The chapter highlights declining trust in governments and democratic institutions globally, rising inequality, and socio-political instability, while also discussing how technology shapes social organization and political dynamics. It critically examines the challenges facing democracy, including the notion of 'zombie democracies,' where political participation becomes performative rather than substantive.