4 SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL 369 ISSUE 6508 1175

A

round the world, democracy is losing

ground. Polarization and disinforma-

tion have rendered liberals and conser-

vatives unable to agree on basic facts.

State violence and suppression of citi-

zens’ rights are resurgent. Free and fair

elections are being threatened.

In this special issue, we critically ex-

amine the state of democracy and how it

must adapt to achieve its ideals in the 21st century.

We need to meet the challenges and opportunities

of living in increasingly multiethnic societies, of

fostering democracy in a weakened international

environment, of reducing inequality and elevat-

ing the political representation of the poor, and

of organizing social movements and combating

disinformation tactics in the digital age. Advances

in technology are making it easier to distort true

voter representation through gerrymandering,

and political campaigns continue to struggle with

reaching voters and persuading them to partici-

pate. Worryingly, state violence, which has always

been a core feature of the democratic experience

for some, is spreading in democratic societies.

Twenty years ago, it seemed inevitable that

democracy would reach every corner of the globe.

In this moment, we are reminded that we must

fi ght for democracy and work to improve it.

A scientifi c understanding of the social and

behavioral phenomena that underlie its operation

will help us enhance democracy and, by doing so,

improve human lives and societies globally.

By Tage Rai and Brad Wible

IN FLUX AND

UNDER THREAT

SCIENCE sciencemag.org

Published by AAAS