Democracy is under siege worldwide. Institutions that undergird democratic practice are staggering under the weight of technological, economic and cultural change. In public life, the major questions that arouse controversy are mostly the wrong questions. At the same time the inquiry, debate, argument essential for the renewal of democracy isn't happening.
The siege reality is nothing new. From the beginning, powerful forces have schemed to capture vulnerable democracies for their own ends. Autocracy, oligarchy, communism, fascism, theocracy all reflect the drive for centralization of power that continually threatens democratic practice.
Organized money relentlessly intervenes in the life of democracies to bend institutions and policies to its own ends. Often, when highly concentrated, organized money linked to political action promotes narrow interests that confuse, override or manipulate the common good.
The same may be said for state enforced religious rule which denies religious freedom to non-conforming faith traditions in favor of a single claim to absolute truth.
The antidote to the systemic consolidation of unilateral power is an informed, engaged citizenry. In this regard, citizen apathy - particularly in its most toxic form of learned helplessness - poses the ultimate challenge.
The siege reality is nothing new. From the beginning, powerful forces have schemed to capture vulnerable democracies for their own ends. Autocracy, oligarchy, communism, fascism, theocracy all reflect the drive for centralization of power that continually threatens democratic practice.
Organized money relentlessly intervenes in the life of democracies to bend institutions and policies to its own ends. Often, when highly concentrated, organized money linked to political action promotes narrow interests that confuse, override or manipulate the common good.
The same may be said for state enforced religious rule which denies religious freedom to non-conforming faith traditions in favor of a single claim to absolute truth.
The antidote to the systemic consolidation of unilateral power is an informed, engaged citizenry. In this regard, citizen apathy - particularly in its most toxic form of learned helplessness - poses the ultimate challenge.