Introduction. In search of the missing link.
Representative democracy is going through a time of deep difficulties. As in
past similar situations there are many attempts at updating it so to get out of a
permanent legitimization and functionality crisis. In the last thirty years the predominant
movement has been towards a stronger role for authority however the
resulting mix of market, technocracy and populism, more or less media based, is
increasingly unpopular. The time seems ripe for a re-evaluation of the demos. Are
we in the wake of another disillusionment or things are really changing?