Democratic Resilience in the Contemporary Era: Gender, Identities and Inclusive Futures

In the post-COVID era, the change in the political landscape, particularly in liberal democracies, has raised global concerns regarding democratic backsliding and an increasing frequency of democratic reversals. Although democracy continues to function through electoral procedures, serious concerns have been raised about the violation of constitutional values, narrowing of public spaces, decline of media freedom and the marginalisation of vulnerable communities. Similarly, we are witnessing new forms of civic engagement, social movements, digital activism, feminist and queer voices for inclusive representation aiming to reshape democratic participation in the contemporary world.
With this background, our panel proposal aims to provide a critical and intersectional understanding of democratic resilience, connecting theory with lived realities and policy practices in selected liberal democracies. Although the concept of democratic resilience has gained increasing prominence in academic and policy discussions internationally, it remains analytically underdeveloped within the context of the Global South. This panel further aims to explore how democratic institutions, civil society actors, identity formations, and inclusive practices interact to either strengthen or weaken democratic systems in the contemporary world. It also seeks to engage with questions of citizenship, gender, caste, religion, region, ethnicity, sexuality, and minority rights in shaping democratic experiences and political participation. Particular emphasis will be given to the lived experiences of marginalised and historically excluded communities whose negotiations with democracy often unfold within deeply unequal social and political structures. By connecting theoretical debates with contemporary political realities and policy practices, the panel aims to foster interdisciplinary discussions on the future of democracy, inclusion, and social justice ( in India and the USA). In addition, it seeks to contribute toward developing a more nuanced understanding of democratic resilience and inclusive democratic futures in an era marked by uncertainty, contestation, and rapid socio-political transformation.