Democracy won the 20th century. But has its success bred lethal complacency in the 21st? | Paul Ham

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 of those in the audience had come to hear these intellectual superstars define the limits of political self-sacrifice; I cheerfully served as a bolt-on historian. Gessen described democracy as an indefinable “dream” and said they agreed with Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, (“words I never thought I’d say”) that they’d only be willing to give their life for their children.

Topics

A Monroe Doctrine for the 21st century
Politics - The Hill - 6 days ago
‘It changed 20th-century art’: revisiting Robert Frank’s The Americans – in pictures
World - The Guardian - 4 days ago
Yes, democracy was on the ballot — and it won!
Politics - The Hill - November 13
Kane has been the defining player of a successful era but that has run its course | Barney Ronay
World - The Guardian - 6 days ago
Cutting-edge labs, a rainforest gallery and guesthouse: Nigeria to open art museum for 21st century
World - The Guardian - 6 days ago
‘At my signal, unleash hell!’ What the Gladiator films tell us about 21st-century men
World - The Guardian - 5 days ago
Americast: Has Trump Won?
Top stories - BBC News - November 6
West Ham's Kudus has ban extended to 5 games
Sports - ESPN - November 6

Democracy won the 20th century. But has its success bred lethal complacency in the 21st? | Paul Ham

Topics

Related

A Monroe Doctrine for the 21st century

‘It changed 20th-century art’: revisiting Robert Frank’s The Americans – in pictures

Yes, democracy was on the ballot — and it won!

Kane has been the defining player of a successful era but that has run its course | Barney Ronay

Cutting-edge labs, a rainforest gallery and guesthouse: Nigeria to open art museum for 21st century

‘At my signal, unleash hell!’ What the Gladiator films tell us about 21st-century men

Americast: Has Trump Won?

West Ham's Kudus has ban extended to 5 games

More from The Guardian

Middle East crisis live: Israeli airstrike on Lebanon kills at least one Lebanese soldier and injures 18 others

Rabbi in UAE killed in ‘antisemitic terror incident’, says Israel

Cop29 agrees $1.3tn climate finance deal but campaigners brand it a ‘betrayal’

‘He was wedged like an hourglass’: rescuers describe 20-hour ordeal ending with amputation of rafter’s leg

Russia ‘aggressive’ and ‘reckless’ in cyber realm and threat to Nato, UK minister to warn