European poll shows democracy still needs a bit of work

Every year, the UN celebrates its International Day of Democracy, even if it often feels like there is little to smile about on this front. Research to be presented at the Italian parliament in 2014 to mark the occasion shows that while Europeans across the continent share a powerful faith in democracy, they think their countries are lacking some of its most fundamental components.

The research, carried out by the European Social Survey is an attempt to quantify the difference between Democratic ideals and reality.

• Primary Source

UN: International Day of Democracy 15 September http://www.un.org/en/events/democracyday/

http://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/ http://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/

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