In recent years, Denmark has seen a rise in the number of public forums. Inspired by the Folkemødet (People’s Meeting) on the island of Bornholm, a range of local and thematic democratic events have emerged across the country – such as the Cultural Meeting on Mors, the Youth People’s Meeting in Valby Park, the Agricultural People’s Meeting, and citizen-driven initiatives like the Møn People’s Meeting and the Southern Funen People’s Meeting.

What sets the Folkemødet in Allinge apart is its ability to attract the major political parties, national media, interest organizations, and government ministries. It turns the entire country into its stage, with dialogue as its democratic focal point – not because the meeting necessarily changes political realities in any dramatic way, but because it highlights a core democratic value: the conversation.

At its heart, democracy is about the right of everyone – regardless of power, status, or background – to participate in discussions about shared concerns. And that idea comes vividly to life on the various stages of Allinge each June. As intellectual historian Mikkel Thorup puts it:

“Democratic practice is a practice of conversation. The more we bring into discussion, and the more voices we include in debates about our common concerns, the better.”
Folkemødet can therefore be seen as a ritual repetition of democracy’s core idea: that no voice is too small to be heard.

When Folkemødet ends and silence returns to Allinge, the conversation doesn’t disappear – it merely changes form. For Mikkel Thorup, this is precisely what characterizes democracy: it is never finished. We may not bring home concrete solutions, but we bring something else – a renewed reminder that disagreement, doubt, and debate are part of what keeps democracy alive. And it is in that ongoing conversation – even after the tents have been packed away – that democracy lives on.

A Form of Government with Built-in Restlessness
According to Mikkel Thorup, democracy stands out as a form of government in two fundamental ways: it is based on the idea that all people are equal and have the right to participate – and it is the only form of government that invites critique of itself.

“Democracy is the only system of rule that does two wild things. First, it says that everyone has the right to participate equally – that we are all fundamentally equal. Every other form of rule assumes that someone is above you whom you must obey – God, the king, or the lord. Democracy is the only form that has equality as its core principle. And secondly, it’s the only form of government that invites criticism of itself. It’s not only legitimate – it’s actually necessary – to debate democracy again and again,” says Mikkel Thorup.
This openness, which some may see as a weakness, is in his view democracy’s greatest strength:

“Democracy generates its own dissatisfaction. It has fantastic ideals it can never fully live up to. It makes big promises and invites everyone to share responsibility – and that ensures there will always be someone who feels it’s not working. But that’s not a breakdown. It’s part of democracy’s nature.”
Rogue Democracy – A Democracy Out of Control?
It is against this backdrop that Mikkel Thorup, in his doctoral dissertation, introduces the concept of rogue democracy, capturing a moment where democratic development is moving in many directions at once.

“There are developments within democracy that some find exciting and important, while others find them deeply problematic,” he explains.
“Populism, for instance, is seen by some as a huge democratic boost – many feel heard and represented. Others see it as a threat to democracy. That dual reading is what I try to capture with the concept rogue democracy.”
This doesn’t mean we’re losing democracy – rather, that society no longer agrees on what democracy should be.

“We’re discussing democracy a lot right now. And that’s actually a huge sign of democratic health. It shows that people care – that there’s something we fear losing. To me, that shows we’ve become deeply democratic. No one wants to give up on democracy. Everyone wants the real thing – true democracy. They just disagree on what that looks like.”

A Book About Democracy’s Restlessness and Resilience
In September, Mikkel Thorup’s new book “Unruly Democracy – The Wildest Experiment in the World” will be published by Gads Forlag. The book is based on his doctoral dissertation but written for a broader audience. It explores how democracies are constantly being negotiated and transformed – especially through the way we talk about them. The book dives into some of the major contemporary debates about democracy and asks questions like:

Is democracy in crisis? Is populism a blessing or a threat to democracy? Are conspiracy theories a symptom of democratic health – or sickness? Is neoliberalism dismantling democracy – or securing its economic foundation? What do climate change and ecological crises mean for the future of democracy? But instead of confirming the narrative of democratic decline, Mikkel Thorup argues that it is precisely in the constant unrest – in the debates, disagreements, and worries – that democracy is alive.

“There has never been a time in democracy’s history when people didn’t think it was in crisis or not doing well,” he says.
This enduring sense of crisis is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, he believes it shows we still take democracy seriously. And even though his books are not directly about them, this is where the Folkemøder (People’s Meetings) re-enter the picture. According to Thorup, the People’s Meetings are not the solution to democracy’s challenges – but they are a sign that, despite frustration and doubt, we still insist on dialogue. That we still gather, still debate, and still try to make democracy better.

Contact

Mikkel Thorup, professor
Department of Philosophy and the History of Ideas
School of Culture and Society
Aarhus University
Phone: +45 8716 2253
Email: idemt@cas.au.dk