ABSTRACT
This chapter is an opening to the edited volume that critically examines the intersection of social movements, participatory governance and democratic innovations in Southeast Europe. We introduce the chapters that explore the historical experiences and the contemporary evolving landscape of democracy in the region, discussing the challenges of representative democracy, rising autocratization and the potential for democratic innovations in creating more inclusive societies. The contributors to this volume assess the connections between participatory models with civic engagement and institutional practices, shedding light on the dynamic relationship between bottom-up activism and top-down governance.
