This edition brings together esaays on democracy, covering a wide range of conceptual, historical, institutional, and policy issues. It addresses the question of civil society, which has become a central focus of popular as well as scholarly concern in both new and established democracies. Included here is Robert D. Putnam's article "Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital". The problems confronting democratic governments and movements in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the post-communist countries are also considered.