Platform-driven, social-media-based and AI-fuelled political debate amplifies the personalisation of power. Individual politicians may become more significant than their parties. At the same time, capabilities that are crucial for successful politics, including the ability to compromise, may weaken. Commitment to traditional parties and civil society organisations is declining, and young people in particular are looking for quick and direct ways to make an impact. Yet democracy will continue to need deliberation, reflection, organising and compromise.