The Danish Parliament initiated the Danish Democracy and Power Study due to concern about the development and current state of Danish democracy. The book describes the development in an overall analysis of the numerous studies of the parliamentary bodies (parliament and government) and their relations with the outside world. The analysis shows that a number of institutions in the parliamentary surroundings have gained influence in recent decades, including the mass media, the courts, the National Bank, independent state enterprises and, not least, the EU. This development is not specific to Denmark, however; it is also very much present in other established democracies, which must, therefore, prepare themselves for new conditions for democratic rule in the future.

The political chain of power and accountability works well in Denmark within the existing framework. Parliament is very strong, not least due to the Danish tradition for minority governments. Its greatest problem is the disagreement between the voters and the parliamentary parties about European integration, which has been ascertained several times. Other, more specific issues also give rise to concern about the future of democracy, e.g., the mass media’s role, independent state enterprises, EU membership, the use of referenda, recruitment of MPs, parliamentarism’s mode of operation and the development of the relationship between ministers and government officials, including the role of so-called “special advisors.”