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A new book edited by Wolfgang Merkel and Sascha Kneip discusses the potential causes of the current “crisis of democracy.” Does this stem from a lack of participation by citizens, the absence of trust in the political elite, or does the real root of the problem lie with political institutions themselves? Among other topics, the researchers analyze the role of globalization and deregulation and demonstrate why challenges to democracy have morphed into phenomena of crisis.

Ein neues Buch, herausgegeben von Wolfgang Merkel und Sascha Kneip, bietet einen umfassenden Überblick über das Thema "Demokratie und Krise". Über die Ursachen der Krise der Demokratie wird heftig gestritten: Ist es die fehlende Partizipation der Bürger, das verschwundene Vertrauen in die politische Elite oder in die politischen Institutionen insgesamt? Die Autoren analysieren, warum sich Herausforderungen für die Demokratie in Krisenphänomene verwandelt haben.

It’s a well-known fact that becoming unemployed takes a toll on individuals’ health. There is also little doubt about the fact that families can cushion the blow of losing a job. This study is the first to investigate the concrete impact of this family support – be it emotional or financial – and the role played by the external welfare state.

Dass es auch auf die Gesundheit schlägt, wenn jemand arbeitslos wird, ist bekannt. Dass die Familie die negativen Auswirkungen eines Jobverlusts abfedern kann, ist ebenfalls unstrittig.

In the United States, around 10 million people ­­are at risk of becoming part of the working poor. Leaving home, becoming a parent, or going through a divorce can dramatically increase this exceptionally high figure. Zachary van Winkle and Emanuela Struffolino are the first to study how such family demographic transitions can push people into at-work poverty and breed social exclusion.

How to bring back social cohesion, asks WZB President Jutta Allmendinger in the Washington Post. Social interaction between different social circles – whether through discourse, clarification, affirmation, or examination of changing norms and values– is crucial for any democratic society to function.