The will of the people

Writing about threats to democracy is no longer prophetic. The future of democracy is now a topic for coffee conversation and social media warfare. Words that are central to good governance are being hijacked to dismantle the very principles they represent. “Will of the people,” for example, is used to claim legitimacy for whatever a leader says after a narrow margin of victory in an election with a low voter turn-out. It may only reflect the will of a small percentage of the people who are impacted by it. Actions that violate basic human rights and constitutions are justified as election mandates, just because an elected leader “says so.” Global concern about democracy arises because there is evidence that elected governments are sliding into autocratic rule, led by strongmen who gain power and claim legitimacy through the ballot box.

Hijacking democracy

Declines in modern democracies range from slipping into autocracy (rule by one powerful person) or new oligarchies (rule by a group of powerful people) all the way to kleptocracy (using the powers of government for personal or business benefit). When power is obtained through the ballot box but then used to undermine the basic norms of democracy, it loses its legitimate authority. Resistance includes working to reform voting systems; it also needs to be much deeper and that is where Christians may have positive contributions to make.

Democracy 3.0

In the last six months I have read more than a dozen books about the future of democracy; some focus on the U.S., a few analyze how the Canadian context is different and a few are global. Weaknesses in many current democratic governing systems contribute to their increased vulnerability to manipulation and exploitation. What strikes me in the commentaries is a common theme across different perspectives and contexts when it comes to the future of democracy. If it survives, Democracy 3.0 will be a thicker, more robust version that goes beyond the reform of voting systems, which is also important. What strikes me even more is this: the direction of the deeper reforms that are now suggested by many writers on democracy align with biblical teachings about justice and creating conditions for the flourishing of all people.

The current awareness that democracy and good governance are fragile presents opportunities. Citizens can play an important role in reforms to build more robust democracies. Respect for the basic human rights of all people, including minority groups, needs enforcement through robust mechanisms that are above party politics. To prevent the concentration and potential abuse of power, citizens can insist on processes that provide checks and balances, and speak up against unfounded attacks on public servants and experts who speak truth to power. Within society, generous accommodation of deep differences can enrich the search for meaning by every person and allow more people to see themselves inside our governing systems, instead of feeling alienated as outsiders. The first step is awareness that we can no longer take democracy and good governance for granted.