The Global Summit for Democracy
Democracy is the political system that enables citizens to make laws and policies for society, or elect representatives who do so on their behalf. It is the form of government most widely accepted today. Democracy has many virtues, but it is not without its challenges and pitfalls. It is important to recognize these pitfalls so that we can work toward the improvement of democracy, not its demise.
A common argument for democracy is that it provides better outcomes than other forms of governance. This argument is normally made along two dimensions: instrumentally, by reference to the relative effectiveness of democracy compared with other methods of decision making; and intrinsically, by reference to the values that are associated with democracy.
The instrumental argument for democracy usually focuses on the positive outcomes that can be achieved through democratic processes. This may include, for example, fewer wars and lower rates of poverty. It may also refer to the ability to solve problems more effectively by bringing together a diverse range of people to consider their options and to take into account different views, perspectives, and experiences.
Other justifications for democracy focus on the intrinsic value of democracy as a moral good. These arguments often draw on a variety of philosophical traditions, including Aristotle’s “principle of proportionality” and contemporary social science. It is generally agreed that a democracy that does not require the free and fair participation of all its citizens is a less legitimate one.
Whether it is the result of economic dissatisfaction, growing inequality or an anger over rapid social change, the world’s democracies have faced serious challenges in recent years. Anger at established political elites and rising social discontent have fueled the rise of anti-establishment leaders, parties and movements across regions. Organizations such as Freedom House, the Economist Intelligence Unit and V-Dem have documented a global decline in democracy.
This is a moment to recommit to democracy and its promise of peace, prosperity and human rights for all. To do this, we must establish the Global Summit for Democracy to convene allies, define purpose, drive ambition and resources, and commit to strengthening democracy at home and supporting it globally. To ensure that the summit is not merely an empty rhetorical exercise, we should impose a serious price on participants: those who attend should be required to make substantial and meaningful commitments to invest in democracy at both domestic and global levels. The Summit should also serve as a forum for discussing, launching, and galvanizing new coalitions on specific challenges in areas such as technology, independent media, and election integrity. This would allow the summit to function as a catalyst for the creation of a truly democratic global order.
Democracy is the political system that enables citizens to make laws and policies for society, or elect representatives who do so on their behalf. It is the form of government most widely accepted today. Democracy has many virtues, but it is not without its challenges and pitfalls. It is important to recognize these pitfalls so that we can work toward the improvement of democracy, not its demise. A common argument for democracy is that it provides better outcomes than other forms of governance. This argument is normally made along two dimensions: instrumentally, by reference to the relative effectiveness of democracy compared with other methods of decision making; and intrinsically, by reference to the values that are associated with democracy. The instrumental argument for democracy usually focuses on the positive outcomes that can be achieved through democratic processes. This may include, for example, fewer wars and lower rates of poverty. It may also refer to the ability to solve problems more effectively by bringing together a diverse range of people to consider their options and to take into account different views, perspectives, and experiences. Other justifications for democracy focus on the intrinsic value of democracy as a moral good. These arguments often draw on a variety of philosophical traditions, including Aristotle’s “principle of proportionality” and contemporary social science. It is generally agreed that a democracy that does not require the free and fair participation of all its citizens is a less legitimate one. Whether it is the result of economic dissatisfaction, growing inequality or an anger over rapid social change, the world’s democracies have faced serious challenges in recent years. Anger at established political elites and rising social discontent have fueled the rise of anti-establishment leaders, parties and movements across regions. Organizations such as Freedom House, the Economist Intelligence Unit and V-Dem have documented a global decline in democracy. This is a moment to recommit to democracy and its promise of peace, prosperity and human rights for all. To do this, we must establish the Global Summit for Democracy to convene allies, define purpose, drive ambition and resources, and commit to strengthening democracy at home and supporting it globally. To ensure that the summit is not merely an empty rhetorical exercise, we should impose a serious price on participants: those who attend should be required to make substantial and meaningful commitments to invest in democracy at both domestic and global levels. The Summit should also serve as a forum for discussing, launching, and galvanizing new coalitions on specific challenges in areas such as technology, independent media, and election integrity. This would allow the summit to function as a catalyst for the creation of a truly democratic global order.