Democracy is widely seen as being under threat. Our discussion will reflect critically on how it is presented in both political rhetoric and academic debates. We will ponder the socio-political origins of constitutions, their purpose in the historical context of state formation and the evolving meanings and expectations attached to citizenship. Can populism be seen as an inevitable by- product of constitutional democracy as it is understood and ‘sold’ to the people? Does the dominant approach to democracy work in the era of globalization?