20 of America's top political scientists gathered to discuss our democracy. They're scared.

by Sean Illing at Vox

https://www.vox.com/2017/10/13/16431502/america-democracy-decline-liberalism

"SNIP............

Political polarization is an obvious problem, but researchers like Przeworski suggest something more profound is going on. Political theorists like to talk about the “social compact,” which is basically an implicit agreement among members of society to participate in a system that benefits everyone.

Well, that only works if the system actually delivers on its promises. If it fails to do so, if it leads enough people to conclude that the alternative is less scary than the status quo, the system will implode from within.


.............SNIP"