Why are our democracies in danger ?

We have already touched upon the subject of assaults on democracy on part of external authoritarian powers as well as internal populist parties. I am mainly thinking of one book that was summarized earlier and that you can find in the « Politics » part of the « Main Themes » section. That is « Démocraties contre Empires Autoritaires » (Democracies versus authoritarian empires) by Nicolas Baverez. Some intrinsic weaknesses of democracies are developed in that essay, even though its main focus is about external threats.

In the summary to which you have a link below, I have mainly focused on a recent essay by Dominique Schnapper called « Les Désillusions de la Démocratie » or « Democracy’s disillusionment ». Dominique Schnapper is a sociologist and political scientist, Director of Studies at EHESS in Paris. She was, among others, member of the French Constitutional Council during 10 years.

Her focus is essentially on the main principles, that are necessary for a democracy to function, on its weaknesses « by definition », its contradictions and mostly on its intrinsic threats.

To quote the author’s father who is none less than the French philosopher Raymond Aron, « I believe in the final victory of democracies, but at the one condition, that they want it ».

You will find the full summary in the « Politics » part of the « Main Themes » section (link below).

https://www.thegoalisthepath.blog/projects/zero-carbon-world

I also recommend for our French readers/speakers, to listen to the interview of Dominique Schapperman on Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZBv44Q2RiA