How compatible is normative democracy with human rights, social justice, meaningful social change, engagement, peace, and solidarity? If normative democracy is the solution, why is there so much individual and collective harm, punishment, and disenfranchisement, especially for traditionally marginalized populations? This chapter consists of three central parts. First, I elaborate on what I view as the turbulent, still militarized nexus surrounding the notion of democracy, arguing that normative democracy is imbued within hegemonic, neoliberal, American-centric values and aesthetics; here, I also introduce the notion of ‘Pygmalion democracy’. Second, I enmesh the postdigital context with the debate about and the dynamic of democracy. Third, I provide a comparative analysis of the USA in terms of diverse democracy indicators to contextualize the nebulous complexity of normative democracy. In conclusion, I offer some thoughts on where we might be headed and identify some potential for counter-hegemonic resistance and resilience. Inspired by Paulo Freire’s work, the chapter is centred on understanding and deconstructing social justice, emancipation, agency, and engagement to confront inequitable power relations.