“Democracy after all is a high-risk undertaking. It means trusting the people rather than the experts; but it also means educating the people, challenging the people, inspiring the people. It means stimulating the people to think, to criticize, to question. It means respecting process as well as results.”
Our Quote of the Week makes clear that democracy is complex because it relies on the participation of all citizens, no matter what their backgrounds or beliefs.
This week, we are reminded of the day Sargent Shriver spoke these words when he ended his Presidential campaign in 1976. While he didn’t succeed in his presidential bid, his words demonstrate his unwavering faith in democracy and in the ability of people to respect its processes and results. Shriver’s reference to democracy being a “high-risk undertaking” is notable here, in that it emphasizes that democracy relies on the good faith and will of its participants and on the inclusion of all citizens.
To be sure, several factors help to define a democracy, and several factors can also put it at risk. Peoples’ ability to vote, to freely express themselves, to have their civil and human rights protected, to live a life free from conflict and war and poverty, are all factors that help to create a democracy. It’s vital to understand the importance and the relative fragility of these factors, and the ways in which policies and political decisions can determine the degree to which a society can be considered democratic.
Why is there so much talk about the state of democracy these days? In the most recent Economist Democracy Index report, researchers conclude that democracy has been in decline around the world, including in the US, for the past several years, and currently, only 24 of the 167 countries covered by the index, or 14.4% of countries, can be considered full democracies.
We clearly have much work to do if we are to create a more free, inclusive society both in the US and around the world. It’s crucial that we be aware of the health of our democracy, and that we support policies and leaders who work to preserve the factors that create it. Last but not least, it’s imperative that we act in good faith, respond to each other with open minds, and build trust with each other, so that we can work towards a society in which everyone participates.
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