The precipitous political changes of the past years call for an acute analysis of their causes, and a willingness to leave the box in search of solutions. Renovating Democracy makes a serious and accessible attempt at accomplishing both of these urgent goals. It is an erudite and original contribution to the most pressing challenge liberal democracies face today." -- Yascha Mounk, author of The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom is in Danger and How to Save it This book is a critically needed perspective that understands our polarized reality and proposes a well-designed framework to tackle it. It is a wise wake up call to the tech industry that offers a philosophical foundation for what should be done. As societies are driven to the extremes by politicians and special interests, renovating democracy becomes an unavoidable act of survival. Their sharing of their unique experience and high-level exposure is critically needed.

" -- Wael Ghonim, internet activist and entrepreneur. "Digital connectivity and social media enable new levels of democratic engagement--and also amplify tribalism and cultural chaos. In search of productive paths forward, Nathan Gardels and Nicolas Berggruen aim to reconcile the power of direct participation with the equally necessary values of deliberation, pluralism, and compromise. If you care about keeping democracy vital and resilient in an age governed by tweets and memes, read this book!"--Reid Hoffman, cofounder of LinkedIn "Democracy is in crisis. The rise of populism and nativism has been propelled by social media and propaganda. This fascinating and timely book provides great ideas--sometimes even radical ones--for reclaiming democracy by using social media to bring us together and inform us, rather than the opposite. It offers welcome antidotes to the polarization and paralysis that threatens our society."--Walter Isaacson, University Professor of History at Tulane, author of L eonardo da Vinci ; Steve Jobs ; Einstein: His Life and Universe ; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life ; and Kissinger: A Biography "Profound and wide-ranging, this is one of the most significant analyses of the stresses and strains of democracy in the digital age yet published.

The authors offer many positive proposals for refurbishing democratic systems, grounding these in a comparative perspective that ranges from California to China."--Anthony Giddens, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and former director, London School of Economics " Renovating Democracy combines a sharp analysis of the challenges that the digital future presents to legacy political and economic institutions with a set of out-of-the-box ideas for changing them. Even if we cannot get there, the ideas will spark important thought and discussion about what should be our possible futures."--Francis Fukuyama, Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law "We are living in an age of populism and of protest against the established political and economic order. How should we understand these trends?--and, far more importantly, what should we do about them? It is to answer this latter question that the authors, searching for a way to renovate democracy, wrote this book. They have succeeded admirably. The intellectual framework is compelling, the analysis acute, and the prescriptions intelligent, forward-looking, and practical. Politicians, policy wonks, and concerned citizens should all read this important book and use it as a spur to action.

"--Fareed Zakaria, CNN anchor, Washington Post columnist, and author of In Defense of a Liberal Education "The political earthquakes of recent years have led many to question whether our democracy is fit for purpose. In this groundbreaking and timely intervention, Nathan Gardels and Nicolas Berggruen challenge us to consider how we must reform our institutions and govern in an age that will be defined by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rise of China."--Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark, 2011-2015 "We all cherish democracy, as we should. Yet so few of us know its dangers, even though Madison warned us that democracy ''is the most vile form of government'' and Adams cautioned that democracy ''soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.'' Sadly, their warnings are now more relevant than ever. Gardels and Berggruen brilliantly explain our contemporary quandaries, propose bold solutions, and, in one volume, lay down the foundations for reinventing good governance. A must-read for all, citizens, and experts." --Kishore Mahbubani, National University of Singapore, founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, author of Has the West Lost It? A Provocation "Democracy is in crisis.

Either it reinvents itself or an age of regression, driven by fear and social dislocation, will prevail. The political, economic, and cultural roots of this crisis and the tools and pathways to reinventing democracy are the core of Nicolas Berggruen and Nathan Gardels''s challenging book. We are traveling in uncharted territory. Not all is a field of ruins. Bold transformative action at the local, national, and global levels is required to reconnect people''s participation and the institutions of democracy. This book is a call for intellectual and emotional engagement in reshaping the governance of the world we live in."--Fernando Henrique Cardoso, President of Brazil, 1995-2003 "America''s enduring strength has been its ability to reinvent itself. Never has the need for innovation been greater.

Here''s a book that answers the big challenges of economic dislocation and social fragmentation with bold ideas that promote participation, not populism--and democracy, not demagoguery. To sustain our cherished core values, we must look beyond fixing the next election cycle to forging a governing consensus. Gardels and Berggruen''s insights into how we can restore individual economic security and rejuvenate deliberative democracy deserve the attention of every thoughtful citizen."--Amy Gutmann, President, The University of Pennsylvania "This is an excellent book--relevant and timely. In it I see, for the first time, specific proposals and suggestions rooted in knowledge of the issues. Gardels and Berggruen engage in-depth with what is perhaps the most crucial issue of our time: the crisis of liberal democracy under the new conditions of globalization and digitization of the world. They go beyond analysis to propose thoughtful policies and measures that could restore trust, strengthen peace, and renovate democracy. Their blueprint for a sustainable future is essential material for the much-needed global deliberation required to find justice and harmony in this new stage of human history.

"--Manuel Castells, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley "A well-crafted case for rethinking globalism, nationalism, capitalism, and the appropriate forms of governance for the contemporary era, with a real sensitivity to wealth distribution and inequality."-- Margaret Levi, Sara Miller McCune Director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University "Nathan Gardels and Nicolas Berggruen develop new ideas to shape political, economic, and social institutions in an era of disruption and great transformations. This incisively written volume pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the worldwide assault on democracy." --Jonathan Aronson, Professor of Communications and Journalism, University of California, School of International Relations.