Interesting story thanks to Democracy Digest

Every generation is tempted to think that its challenges are unique. History teaches otherwise. Democracies can die — of that there should be no doubt. But they can also be modernized and restored to good working order, though never to permanent, perfect health, argues FT analyst Tony Barber.

“Much depends on the diagnosis and proposed remedies,” he contends. “In today’s conditions, although the two sets of problems overlap, it helps to distinguish between the need to improve democratic representation on the one hand, and the need to advance social cohesion and prosperity on the other.”

French president Emmanuel Macron’s proposed “European agency for the protection of democracies,” his “Great Debate” effort to reinvigorate democracy, and the EU’s promotion of participatory democracy – the European Citizens’ Initiative – have had mixed results, Barber observes.

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