This book investigates the inherent antagonism between liberalism and the democratic process, and explores the potential for socialism to enhance democracy. Leo Panitch, a noted scholar in political theory, examines the current challenges facing capitalist democracies, including the rise of authoritarian politics and concepts of post-democracy. The volume critically reappraises existing liberal democracy, aiming to lay the groundwork for new visions and practices of socialist democracy. It argues that a revival of socialist politics in the twenty-first century is contingent upon the establishment of new democratic institutions and practices, particularly in light of the contradictions within neoliberal capitalism.

The book is presented as a timely intervention into contemporary political debates, addressing the perceived crisis in liberal democracy and the resurgence of authoritarianism. It seeks to re-evaluate the relationship between socialism and democracy, proposing that a revitalized socialist politics must be built upon new democratic foundations. The work aims to provide a theoretical basis for developing more robust democratic institutions and practices in the face of neoliberal capitalism's challenges.