Are contemporary democratic states experiencing a major legitimacy crisis? Does the public lack trust in government and confidence in the political process? Has public skepticism spread upward to corrode citizens' evaluations about the performance of democracy? Many think so. Since the early 1990s, several scholars of American public opinion have detected signs of a rising tide of popular discontent and voter anger (Dionne, Craig, Tolchin, Wood) as well as deep mistrust of government (Nye, Zelikow and King, Hetherington), with the U.S. Congress held in especially low regard (Hibbing and Theiss-Morse). These observations are commonly coupled with behavioral indicators of civic engagement, notably low or falling voter turnout (Teixiera, Wattenberg), eroding social capital (Putnam), and declining party loyalties (Aldrich), weakening connections between citizens and the state. Commentators point to multiple signs which are thought to indicate contemporary discontent with American democracy, from voter anger against incumbents of both major parties and the outbreak of the Tea Party populist rebellion to public frustration with gridlock and divisive partisanship in Washington, DC.

During the last decade, similar anxieties have infected other post-industrial societies. In Western Europe, it is claimed that people hate politics (Hay), political parties have lost loyal voters (Franklin et al., Dalton and Wattenberg) as well as grassroots members (Mair and Biezen), while electoral turnout has fallen (Franklin) and public disaffection has spread (Torcal and Montero, Dogan, Andrain, and Smith). Support for populist and radical right parties is seen as another symptom of the rejection of mainstream European politics.