But What Does Democracy Do for Me?

But What Does Democracy Do for Me?

Democratic Theory

09/10/2026

Lorenzo Serini, Fabienne Peter

In an age of mass political apathy and democratic backsliding, we need a better understanding of what Democracy should be doing for the citizen. This understanding can be used as an ideal which citizens, representatives, and policy makers can use when reconstructing our democracies. This paper works to develop that understanding of what good democracy realises for its citizens. It argues that democracy facilitates authentic authorship, a concept which can assimilate the other major understandings within democratic theory.

Democracy, Democratic Theory, Existentialism, Sartre, Authorship, Authentic Authorship, Freedom, Politics, Political Theory, Individual, First-Personal.