The ideal of democracy is a subject of theoretical and political debate. Its content, prerequisites, and practical implications will never cease to concern us. At every step, the citizen experiences the conflict between the utopia of the democratic idea and the reality of its management. The issues developed around this dilemma are particularly rich and indeed encompass the entirety of the social sciences. Part of this discourse is published in the present volume, which consists of contributions in honor of Professor Zisis Papadimitriou, a university teacher and active citizen who has grappled with the utopia and reality of democracy like few others. [Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]