At the end of the Cold War, Francis Fukuyama believed that Western liberal democracy would become the universal form of government. However, the times they are a-changin, and today, it seems that history is repeating itself as a farce, with the 2020s bearing a striking resemblance to the 1930s. It’s not a surprise, then, that democracy has become a key topic in our collection. Here is a selection of timely resources by Catherine Brendow.
The seductive lure of authoritarianism
As our world becomes more complicated, as alarming threats such as war, pandemics, inflation and environmental issues multiply, more and more people, even in what we used to regard as well-established democracies, believe that democracy is unable to address our current issues. Strongmen are seen as the solution, pretending to serve the interests of ordinary people while denying the issues rather than solving them. Once you believe that strongmen are the answer, they are easy to find. Hungary, Israel, Russia, China and even the United States now provide us with plenty of examples. After all, being a dictator is easy, easier than you think. So, is it really the twilight of democracy? In some parts of the world, people who have experienced dictatorship have learned the value of democracy the hard way, and they can feel so happy when they finally have the opportunity to say “no”, as happened in Chile in 1988.
Is tech anti-democratic?
Tech billionaires have clearly chosen their side. Their money gives them immense power. Social networks are a haven for post-truth discourses, and experts are no longer trusted, being seen as part of a self-serving elite. Artificial intelligence could even make things worse… The future looks bleak.
Ways of resistance
Historians might be able to help us, as all this reminds us of the dark times where radio and cinema were the height of technology. Perhaps the last century can teach us something. Political scientists may also be able to help us experiment new ways of rejuvenating democracy,
The dedicated call numbers in our collection are 321.6 – Authoritarianism, 321.7 – Democracy and 321.71 – Civil Society.
These titles and more are on display at the entrance of the Library during Democracy Week. Have a look and borrow whichever catches your eye! The programme for Democracy Week is also available on our website.
Don’t have a DVD player? Borrow a portable DVD player from our services.
Geneva Graduate Institute Library Blog 