The crisis of «classical democracy»: new challenges and viability

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the modern crisis of classical democratic systems, in particular in the context of the transformation into a hybrid regime that combines democratic and authoritarian elements. The main features of democratic and hybrid regimes are presented, in particular, differences in the functioning of government institutions, decision-making mechanisms and the level of citizen participation in the political process. Special attention is paid to the problems faced by democratic regimes in the information age, in particular, the impact of new communication technologies on electoral processes and the consequences of citizens' political behavior. Key problems arising in relations between government and society are also considered, with an emphasis on the decline in trust in democratic institutions and the strengthening of societal polarization, the role of media and social networks, which are able to influence the political behavior of citizens, often contributing to manipulation and disinformation, which leads to changes in electoral activity and political beliefs. The phenomenon of elite and political party actions in crisis situations for the political system and the consequences for individual countries that lead to the destruction of democratic values are considered. In such conditions, the weakening of control mechanisms and institutional restrictions on power is more often observed. The article focuses on the importance of increasing political awareness of citizens and reforming democratic institutions to adapt to new conditions and challenges of the information age. In a broad sense, due to the main problems facing modern democratic systems, the question of possible ways to overcome challenges over time in order to preserve democracy arises.