Summation and Reflection: at the Crossroads: The Democratic Journey

The metaphor of crossroads is an apt description of the state of democracy today. As noted in an earlier volume in this series, Democracy’s Discontent and Civic Learning: Multiple Perspectives, “Across the globe, democracy is under assault. For the 12th year in a row, Freedom House (2017) has reported a general decline in global freedom . . . One study ranks the United States as a ‘flawed democracy,’ placing 21st among the world’s nations (Lee, 2018). For a rising portion of the world’s population, faith in democracy is flagging” (White, 2018, p. ix). In times of social and political upheaval, the question arises, “Which way shall we go?”