This is the fourth annual report analysing the quality of our democracy. Earlier reports have already won a prominent place in the social debate regarding improvements to our democratic system. The experience gained from previous editions and the changed circumstances of Spanish political life have led us this year to focus particular attention, not only on the recurrent core issues of democratic theory, but also on a more topical perspective of living in a democracy. The title of the IDE-2010 expresses a barely complacent diagnosis of the present situation and one which demands a decisive policy response.