Crisi della democrazia e sfide alla partecipazione economica e politica

[Autom. eng. transl.] Democracy has played a decisive role in building the development process of many countries in the world but today it faces a time of crisis and a future full of challenges. In the last decade there has been a slowdown or even a reversal of democratic processes across the world. The article, after exploring the relationship between democracy and economic development, examines the nature of the contemporary crisis by emphasizing the role of the crisis of political participation, witnessed in particular, but not only, by the decline in voter turnout in elections. Subsequently, we reflect on the link between political participation and economic participation, both essential elements for the correct functioning of a democratic regime. Finally, also drawing from the Social Doctrine of the Church, a reflection is proposed on the role that the promotion of decent work, a key element for widespread economic participation, can constitute a channel for the relaunch of democratic processes, in a perspective of integral humanism.