The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club began in Sochi on September 29, 2025, exploring the theme “The Polycentric World: Instructions for Use.” The fourth session was titled “The Will of the People and What Is to Be Done About it? The Fate of Democracy in a World of Manipulation.” The deeper the transformation of states in the new conditions, the more important is the trust of societies and the legitimacy of their policies. However, classical democratic mechanisms do not work as before – they are too manipulative in relation to public opinion and the ability to create political “multiverses”. The participants discussed how to ensure the fulfilment of the will of the people, while maintaining manageability and avoiding external influence.