This systematic literature review examines how narratives about democracy shape democratic engagement and behavior.

Drawing on academic and practitioner literature, the report explores how people’s mental models, communication environments, and lived experiences influence whether they participate in democratic processes or disengage from them. The study highlights the importance of narratives in shaping democratic practices and sustaining democratic systems.

By Mareike Schomerus, Ryan Gem, Rushikesh Jadhav, Maria Milosh, Aby Dwi Prasetya, Gideon Too