Participatory and deliberative forms of democracy: overcoming the crisis of representation?

Participatory and deliberative forms of democracy have been discussed, adopted and tested (although with different frequency and results) in many Western countries. Especially in those crossed by the crisis of representation since late '80, following the breakdown of the welfare state and the transition to the State of the Global Era. And this because, in the middle of a loss of credibility of both the rulers elected by popular vote and the functioning of traditional representative bodies, the leaders themselves decided to adopt other institutional arrangements to enable a greater citizen participation in the discussion, agreement and implementation of public policies. Their purpose was to share responsibility with the inhabitants in such decisions and increase its levels of acceptance and legitimacy in society. Several contemporary thinkers also recommended modifying modern democracies in order to shorten or reverse the increasing distance, distrust and apathy verified in the representative-represented relationship. Knowing their diagnoses of reality and their different proposals for change will provide useful output when thinking critically the nowadays reality and to contribute to improving the quality of existing governments and democracies.