Democracy won the 20th century. But has its success bred a lethal complacency in the 21st?
We never know who is going to rule, but the beauty of democracy is that we know we can always get rid of them. So why wouldn’t we fight like blazes to preserve it?
Before he faced the crowd to discuss the topic of Democracy is Not Worth Dying For, David Runciman – the celebrated podcaster and Cambridge professor of politics – joked to me and our fellow panellist, Masha Gessen: “The answer is obviously ‘no, it’s not’, so why don’t we all just agree and go home?”
Gessen, the formidable Russian-American journalist, smiled in agreement. We were about to address the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney. Most had come to hear these intellectual superstars define the limits of political self-sacrifice; I cheerfully served as a bolt-on historian.
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
-
Top stories - The New York Times
Sick of the 21st Century? These Artists Revive the 18th.
October 18 -
Business - MarketWatch
Global battle against inflation has largely been won, IMF says
5 days ago -
Top stories - NBC News
'Lopez vs. Lopez' started its third season, and George Lopez explains its success
6 days ago -
Business - Financial Times
Has America lost its shame?
October 16 -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
He's already won 2 MVPs. Now Lamar Jackson has taken his game to the next level
4 days ago -
World - The Guardian
The electoral college has become a gun held to the head of US democracy | Lawrence Douglas
October 18 -
Politics - NBC News
Chuck Todd: Harris has ‘decided to close on’ democracy message as ex-Trump official sounds warning
4 days ago -
World - The Guardian
Pakistan’s budding democracy is on the verge of collapse. It has two options – change tack or implode | Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar
Yesterday -
Business - Financial Times
Hilton CEO: ‘Complacency is a disease that can be very dangerous’
October 20
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
ICC prosecutor allegedly tried to suppress sexual misconduct claims against him
5 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Speakers make racist and crude remarks at Trump Madison Square Garden rally – US politics live
13 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 70 as UN chief calls civilians’ plight ‘unbearable’
3 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Georgia’s pro-EU opposition calls for protest over ‘rigged’ election result
4 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Bezos faces criticism after executives met with Trump on day of Post’s non-endorsement
7 hours ago
Latest in World
-
World - ABC News
Voters in Brazil's largest city reelect mayor, who detaches from Bolsonaro after tumultuous campaign
4 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Speakers make racist and crude remarks at Trump Madison Square Garden rally – US politics live
13 minutes ago -
World - ABC News
Polls close in Uruguay's general election after a quiet day that saw the nation live up to its reputation for stability
29 minutes ago -
World - The New York Times
Iran’s Leaders Stress Their Right to Respond to Israel’s Strikes
49 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl review – first they came for the trousers. Then they came for the robot gnome
1 hour ago