The twenty-first century finds humanity living a crucial dilemma for its future development: the major democratic crossroads of our time.

Prominent social inequalities, social exclusion and precarious employment, extended insecurity overwhelmingly by the most diverse social systems in the world and in which survived millions of human beings, unable to enjoy citizenship, threatening the persistence of democracy in its most profound sense. 

The deepening social polarisation, with the consequent deterioration in the quality of life of the middle classes, the loss of social cohesion, the abandonment of welfare systems and acute concentration of power in the political and economic elites, are leading to social confrontation and the weakening of the main democratic institutions. 

In times when humankind confronts major challenges such as climate change and the need to search for peace, cohesive societies and solid democracies need to give a new direction to development. 

Returning to the path of social inclusion, welfare, freedom and social justice is the main goal to follow for humanity in our time.

This article is a part of 'Big Questions of Our Time - The World Speaks'. To download the full publication, click here