At a time when democratic values are increasingly under pressure, strong local self-government is arguably one of the most effective safeguards against democratic erosion, providing institutional diversity, resilience, and arenas for political resistance. Yet for local democracy to fulfil such a role, it must itself be robust and well-functioning. This monograph, Local Democracy at Crossroads, examines the state of local democracy in Sweden—one of the world’s most decentralised countries—through a structured, multi-dimensional assessment. This introductory chapter outlines the rationale for studying local democracy, presents key analytical dimensions such as representation, participation, and legitimacy, and underscores the importance of context-sensitive, historically informed analyses to understand institutional persistence and the prospects for meaningful reform.