| “How can we restore support for democracy in the world?” No longer the sole concern of academics and policy wonks, questions like this are now top of mind for people everywhere who believe in the power and necessity of freedom and self-rule. Journal of Democracy cofounder Larry Diamond sees three keys to reviving the drive for and commitment to democratic government: “Power, Performance, and Legitimacy.” To learn more, read this seminal piece along with a selection of other Journal of Democracy essays exploring the causes of — and possible solutions to — the global democratic recession. |
| Power, Performance, and Legitimacy Around the world, democracy has lost steam. If we are to regain the momentum, we must harness these essential elements and wage the struggle with the conviction that the times demand. Larry Diamond Misunderstanding Democratic Backsliding If democracies did a better job “delivering” for their citizens, so the thinking goes, people would not be so ready to embrace antidemocratic alternatives. Not so. This conventional wisdom about democratic backsliding is seldom true and often not accurate at all. Thomas Carothers and Brendan Hartnett Delivering for Democracy: Why Results Matter Voters around the world are losing faith in democracy’s ability to deliver and increasingly turning toward more authoritarian alternatives. To restore citizens’ confidence, democracies must show they can make progress without sacrificing accountability. Francis Fukuyama, Chris Dann, and Beatriz Magaloni Can Capitalism Save Democracy? Capitalism is often blamed for democracy’s ills. But much of the blame is misplaced. It is not business capture of the state but rather state capture of business that poses the greatest danger to democracy. Semuhi Sinanoglu, Lucan A. Way, and Steven Levitsky How Financial Secrecy Undermines Democracy An expansive underworld of hidden wealth lies beneath the everyday economy. This stealth network of tax havens, secret trusts, and offshore accounts is weakening democratic institutions and fueling our worst enemies. Charles G. Davidson and Ben Judah America’s Crisis of Civic Virtue The problem for democracy today is not capitalism; it is a decline in public honesty and civility. But there is an opportunity to revive our sense of national community, if we seize it. Arthur C. Brooks In Europe, Democracy Erodes from the Right When ordinary voters are given a choice between democracy and partisan loyalty, who will put democracy first? Frighteningly, Europe harbors a deep reservoir of authoritarian potential. Milan W. Svolik, Elena Avramovska, Johanna Lutz, and Filip Milačić When Democracy Is on the Ballot Democracy is on dangerous ground when its fundamental rules become the main point of political contention. This is where we are today. The truth is that the institutions, not just the players, need to change. Michael Ignatieff |
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