It is younger voters that are most disillusioned. They are less likely to vote, and, perhaps most worryingly, more biddable by populists and autocrats. Some 20% of Britons aged 18-45 think the country would be better off with a ‘strong leader who doesn’t have to bother with elections’.

Across Europe, Gen Z increasingly supports politics on the extremes of left and right. But they are not alone, with older voters similarly swayed, and nearly 40% of violent extremist offenders in the USA are aged 35 or older.

Rather than telling people that they are wrong, it is important to understand why they feel this way. Across all age groups, the appeal of populists is contagious and often driven by an individual’s sense that they are losing agency. This is driven in part by increasing disparities in wealth, and a broader feeling that the social contract is broken. Young men are seeing declining rates of academic achievement across developed economies, creating a generation that increasingly finds itself ‘economically and emotionally unviable’. Spanning these groups is a belief that the system is not working for them as it should. Understanding this challenge, give us the best hope of countering it.

Digital democracy is the most tangible example of how technology and civic institutions can create a virtuous partnership. Taiwan’s pioneering use of digital democracy demonstrates how transparency and open data can strengthen public trust in governance. (See also ‘In action’).

Through open data initiatives in the country, citizens actively engage in decision- making processes, enhancing trust. Consider its response to Covid-19. While other governments protected information about PPE like a dark family secret, Taiwan published a digital map, sharing the location of every box of face masks in the country. This real-time inventory enabled people to visit the chemists that had stock, ensuring swifter distribution, and slowed the arrival of Covid-19.

Taiwan shows how open data can strenghten public trust

Blockchain voting systems may offer value, but caution is needed – digital voting systems could be manipulated at scale in ways that printed voting slips cannot. Mandatory voting policies could also help to underpin any democracy. Looking ahead, democracies must also focus on inclusivity and resilience.

Initiatives like RAPID Democracy, which is a simple framework that combines the best existing and emerging participatory principles of both, offers scalable solutions for meaningful citizen engagement. A lot of small innovations can bring democracy back from the brink. All these approaches can not only counter democratic disillusionment but set a better course in a rapidly changing world. By embracing these Big Fixes, we can create resilient, innovative systems capable of engaging with citizens to address some very fundamental challenges.