he resilience of liberal democracies is rooted in individuals and their inherent responsibility for promoting cohesion and collaboration in their respective societies. External threats such as autocratic actors are easy topics of punditry and scholarship on why liberal democracy appears at risk. Yet the difficult truth is that across society, individuals are far more inclined to embrace division than seek cohesion. This is evident in the partisanism in domestic politics, and a growing disdain for educational, political, and international institutions which constitute the international liberal system. And there is enough credible evidence that those external threats abroad exploit this division between democratic populaces and those institutions, portrayed as the elites versus the common people, undermining beliefs in election legitimacy, and stigmatizing the political process.
In the United States, failure to provide a comprehensive civic education to our youth—and impress upon them the necessity of this individual social responsibility—is a key factor. Bridging political and ideological differences across domestic society is imperative, and education systems which promote individual civic responsibility based on collaborative democratic values is a critical component.Political division is not a new phenomena, but has been worsened because generations of Americans have omitted their individual responsibility to promote democratic ideals in favor of partisan loyalties. Resolution is no simple feat, but it remains achievable. To safeguard these democratic ideals, liberal democracies need to prioritize civic education and recognition of exploitation by malicious actors. Inculcation—not indoctrination—of this inherent social responsibility requires curricula which emphasizes democratic and civic concepts, a component sorely lacking in modern education.
Overcoming partisan division, collaboration, promoting civic responsibility, and recognizing exploitation of division by malicious actors is incumbent on every member of a liberal democracy. Individuals must take ownership of their role as members of a free and open society. Individuals and their accountable behavior are the key to democracy's future.
a global affairs media network
The individual actor and democratic resilience
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
August 12, 2024
While external threats to democratic institutions are serious, it is internal social discohesion that is the greater threat. To do better, individuals must take ownership of their role as members of a free and open society, writes Ethan Brown.
T
he resilience of liberal democracies is rooted in individuals and their inherent responsibility for promoting cohesion and collaboration in their respective societies. External threats such as autocratic actors are easy topics of punditry and scholarship on why liberal democracy appears at risk. Yet the difficult truth is that across society, individuals are far more inclined to embrace division than seek cohesion. This is evident in the partisanism in domestic politics, and a growing disdain for educational, political, and international institutions which constitute the international liberal system. And there is enough credible evidence that those external threats abroad exploit this division between democratic populaces and those institutions, portrayed as the elites versus the common people, undermining beliefs in election legitimacy, and stigmatizing the political process.
In the United States, failure to provide a comprehensive civic education to our youth—and impress upon them the necessity of this individual social responsibility—is a key factor. Bridging political and ideological differences across domestic society is imperative, and education systems which promote individual civic responsibility based on collaborative democratic values is a critical component.Political division is not a new phenomena, but has been worsened because generations of Americans have omitted their individual responsibility to promote democratic ideals in favor of partisan loyalties. Resolution is no simple feat, but it remains achievable. To safeguard these democratic ideals, liberal democracies need to prioritize civic education and recognition of exploitation by malicious actors. Inculcation—not indoctrination—of this inherent social responsibility requires curricula which emphasizes democratic and civic concepts, a component sorely lacking in modern education.
Overcoming partisan division, collaboration, promoting civic responsibility, and recognizing exploitation of division by malicious actors is incumbent on every member of a liberal democracy. Individuals must take ownership of their role as members of a free and open society. Individuals and their accountable behavior are the key to democracy's future.
