This article critically examines the scholarship on democratic decline and citizens’ dissatisfaction as well as it explores the key drivers, manifestations, and consequences of democratic backsliding worldwide. The study highlights how declining trust in democratic institutions, economic inequalities, and the rise of populism have intensified public discontent, leading to increased polarization and support for alternative governance models. By analyzing global trends, including democratic erosion in South Asia, Latin America, and Europe, the article underscores the complex relationship between institutional inefficiency, neoliberal policies, and democratic dissatisfaction. The analysis extends to the role of direct democracy, populist movements, and the strategic voting behaviors of emerging powers in shaping governance responses. Through a synthesis of recent theoretical and empirical contributions, this review offers an understanding of how dissatisfaction interacts with political agency and institutional trust, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and responsive democratic structures to mitigate democratic malaise.
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