A provocative reflection on the kidnapping of democracy that offers novel insights on debates that have been occupying critical thinkers for centuries, while providing a cogent critique of the state of democracy today. A valuable and original contribution to scholarship.

Cristina Flesher Fominaya, Reader in Social Politics and Media, Loughborough University; Editor-in-Chief of Social Movement Studies, UK

Democracies are sadly capitulating, with disastrous consequences in terms of democratic accountability, quality of governance and equality. This insightful and beautifully written book must be read as an awakening call, a necessary and timely reminder that the fate of democracy lies with the unfettered determination of citizens to unmask the complex network of 'masters' that are stripping democracy of its representative identity.

Kerman Calvo Borobia, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Salamanca, Spain

Ramón Feenstra takes seriously the kidnap analogy as a conceptual tool with which to dissect the predicament of present-day democracies, engaging provocatively and meticulously with the identity, interests and strategies of both kidnappers and hostages, and the complex relationship between them, which culminates in a predictable and dramatic Stockholm syndrome. For how long will we be complacent, and will we justify the kidnap of our democracies and our lack of say in what happens to us?

Sonia Alonso Saenz De Oger, Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Qatar

This is a wonderful book. Kidnapping is a very strong metaphor to understand the democratic deficits of our time. Moreover, this is the right self-help book for victimized citizens to overcome their Stockholm syndrome and to develop democratizing practices.

Paul Dekker, Professor of Civil Society, Tilburg University, The Netherlands

To understand the challenges contemporary democracies face and to explore potential solutions addressing redemocratization, Feenstra uses the metaphor of kidnapping. The result is a very timely and provocative reflection looking at the present and to the future. A must read and discuss.

Yanina Welp, Senior Researcher, Center for Democracy Studies, and Co-Director of the Zurich Latin American Center, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Kidnapped Democracy is what the democratic imagination so badly needs in this troubling period: a daring re-description of the damage that is being done to the spirit and institutions of democracy in more than a few countries, by a young European scholar whose work deserves global recognition.

John Keane, Professor of Politics, University of Sydney, Australia