SOCIETY
We Must Protect and Strengthen Democracy
Democratic values and ideas are far from being accepted and advocated by large parts of humanity.
We have become so accustomed to taking democracy for granted, believing it to be a form of governance that will endure through time. Throughout history, democracy has been subjected to attacks, yet it has managed to hold its ground until our time.
Currently, it’s evident that democracy is facing more intense and perilous assaults from individuals aiming to gain control of a nation or potentially the whole globe. In the past decade and a half, global occurrences have contributed to the erosion of democratic principles. Authoritarian forces and men with ambitions of becoming dictators have used falsehoods, lies, and alternative presentations as tools to gain power.
What is truly alarming is that these individuals manage to expand their following by spreading lies and falsehoods to people who are to elect new leaders in countries with free elections.
Today, the world faces a situation where the leading superpower, the USA, is at a crossroads where everything could tip from an established democracy to a man who uses lies and falsehoods to gain power. This method has proven to be highly effective. We see the same in Russia, where Putin presents matters in a completely different light than they are, using lies, violence, and oppression, which is extremely dangerous for both his own country and for the West.
But what is really the most dangerous thing happening today?
Is it climate change and its catastrophic consequences, war between nations, the spread of falsehoods and lies, and the normalization of such misuse of false information?
The fact that voters in democratic countries, and elsewhere eventually accept lies as alternative truths represents a dangerous mental process that is underway around the world. Such developments pose a grave threat, as they might result in the erosion of democratic values and the unraveling of the societal fabric, we are familiar with today.
This situation, evoking images of the dystopian world portrayed in George Orwell’s “1984” over seventy years ago, exhibits characteristics that seem eerily applicable to our contemporary society. This is more than just frightening.
1984 has been recognized as one of the top hundred greatest English-language books of all time. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is employed at the Ministry of Truth in London, the capital of Airstrip One, which is the most densely populated region of Oceania. Posters of Big Brother pervade his surroundings, and the Thought Police stand vigilant to uncover any acts of disloyalty towards the Party, which upholds the slogans: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. But when Winston falls in love with Julia, he sees possibilities for a different life. Together, they begin to question the Party.
What actions can we take to safeguard democracy?
I am convinced there are numerous measures we can undertake to protect democracy, emphasizing the importance of exerting all efforts to maintain its core principles.
In taking these steps, we safeguard the stability of our current and future living conditions, while also preserving a democratic heritage for our children and grandchildren. To protect democracy effectively, it’s essential to embrace a new, concrete, precise, and focused strategy:
What do people around the world need most of all?
What do people around the world want?
People want an existence where they are well, where they have the material things they need, where they have income, a house and home, and a roof over their heads, where they feel safe and are protected against violence and dangerous actions from others.
Everyone wants a world without war, but to achieve this, we must act targeted and more directly towards the goals of building wealth and well-being for all people on earth. To accomplish this and bolster democracy, it’s crucial to persuade individuals of the paramount importance of honesty, encouraging them to embrace truth rather than resorting to falsehoods and fear.
We require a steadfast bulwark in defence of truth, emphasizing to everyone that truthfulness in all our actions stands as the singularly most vital instrument for safeguarding our well-being: our present existence, our forthcoming future, and the welfare of subsequent generations. Preserving democracy necessitates proactive measures to fortify and safeguard our democratic structures and procedures.
Some measures that can contribute to saving democracy.
Democratic education: Educating individuals about democracy is crucial for fostering an understanding of and participation in democratic practices. Educational institutions ought to instruct students on the functioning of democracy, underscore the significance of voting rights, and teach them to critically appraise information.
Combating misinformation: Initiating programs and developing technologies designed to aid individuals in recognizing and discarding erroneous information and news are essential. This may involve digital literacy efforts aimed at teaching the public to critically evaluate sources and news online.
Advocating for unbiased journalism: Backing independent media outlets and journalists who provide accurate and unbiased reporting, and holding those in power accountable, is fundamental to maintaining a vibrant democracy.
Reinforcing the rule of law: It’s vital to ensure that legislation upholds and defends democratic principles and human rights, applied without bias. This encompasses safeguarding the freedoms of expression and assembly.
Boosting electoral participation: Measures like early voting, electronic voting, and informational campaigns are important to encourage and ease the process of voting, highlighting the value of each vote.
Empowering civil society: Active involvement in and support for civil society organizations that champion democratic ideals, human rights, and community engagement are indispensable for a thriving democracy. This can also include active participation in local communities and politics.
Fostering dialogue and comprehension: Establishing platforms for conversation among varied societal groups to enhance mutual understanding and respect for differing viewpoints. This strategy can diminish polarization and encourage collaborative efforts.
Ensuring the integrity of election technology: It is crucial to guarantee the security, transparency, and invulnerability to tampering of the technologies deployed in electoral processes. This encompasses safeguarding against cyber threats and meddling with election outcomes.
Promoting financial transparency in politics: Achieving transparency in the funding of political campaigns and parties is essential to prevent corruption and ensure fair access to the political system.
Fostering international collaboration: Working together with other nations and global organizations to advance and uphold democratic principles worldwide, including opposition to autocratic governments and support for democratic initiatives.
These principles are fundamental and should be universally recognized.
However, a glance at the global landscape reveals a troubling reality: the principles and ideals of democracy are not widely embraced or promoted across significant segments of the global population. Democracy is threatened in many areas. By implementing and prioritizing such measures as mentioned above, we can work together to strengthen and preserve democracy for future generations.