This book introduces the silent revolution as a new way to understand social change in ageing, post-industrial societies. It argues that demographic ageing, institutional drift, and the normalization of stagnation are quietly reshaping democracy, in ways that speak to current debates on post-democracy and late modernity.

The book sets this argument against classical theories of revolution from Marx to Weber, and extends demographic transition theory beyond population statistics to its political and cultural consequences. Drawing on European population data, studies of voting behaviour, and comparisons of welfare states, it offers a new framework for understanding why ageing societies find change so difficult, and what this means for the future of democracy.

It will interest sociologists of social change and political sociology, political scientists working on democracy, scholars of ageing societies, and readers concerned with the future of late modern democracies.

Stavros Pantazopoulos is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece. He studied history and archaeology and pursued postgraduate studies in demography and culture, specializing in social policy (PhD) and social transformation (postdoctoral research). He has authored and co-authored academic books, as well as articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals in Greece and abroad. His research and writing interests focus on social policy, demography, social transformation, and social history.

Charalampos Economou is Professor of Sociology and Health Policies in the Department of Sociology at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece. His work focuses on social policy, health policy, health economics, sociology of health, social inclusion, and European and supranational social protection. He has collaborated with international organizations including the World Health Organization and the OECD, and with research centres such as the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. He served on the Board of the Greek DRG Institute (2018-2024) and as Vice-Rector for Research and Lifelong Learning at Panteion University (2020-2024). Since 2024 he has been an Internal Member of Panteion's Board of Directors, and since 2021 a member of the Ministry of Health's Committee of Public Health Experts.