After the acrimony of Brexit, the shock of Trump, and the continued pull of Putin and Xi it seems that democracy is in a state of decay. And as governments around the world struggle to combat the coronavirus – often adopting draconian measures as a response – there is a sense, a panic, that democracy’s decline may be terminal. But how many of us are certain about what democracy actually is? Acclaimed political philosopher Jan-Werner M?ller lucidly argues that in order for us to understand the true risks of our current moment, we must first establish an understanding of first principles. What is essential for democracy to flourish? How can we defend it without forever distorting its DNA? In this volume, he explains how democracy is founded not just on liberty and equality, but also on uncertainty.