What keeps democracies alive?

Democracy in Question?

Over the series, our focus has often been on the serious challenges that democracies face all over the world today. We have also highlighted how they can and are degenerating and morphing into authoritarianism. But this episode flips the perspective to understand how we can foster and nurture democratic spaces and practices in our societies. Professor Till Van Rahden (Université de Montréal) discusses why we should move beyond an institutional view of democracy as a system of government. We explore with him how democracy is a fragile way of life that needs constant care and how it can be protected.

Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:

• The Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna: IWM

• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD

• The Excellence Chair and Soft Authoritarianism Research Group in Bremen: WOC

• The Podcast Company: Earshot Strategies

Follow us on social media!

• Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna: @IWM_Vienna

• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @AHDCentre

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Demokratie. Eine gefährdete Lebensform. (2019).

• English discussion of the book: “Democracy. A Fragile Way of Life?” (2020).

Read the comment by Jens Adams on this episode: On Daily Encounters and Public Infrastructures: What Keeps Democracies Alive?.

GLOSSARY

What slow erosion of democratic institutions in Hungary is Shalini Randeria referring to and who is Viktor Orbán?

(00:01:00 or p. 1 in the transcript)

Viktor Orbán has been Prime Minister of Hungary since 2010. He also is President of Fidesz, a national conservative political party. To learn more about the erosion of democratic institutions in Hungary we recommend episode 3 of our first season of “Democracy in Question?” where guest Kim Lane Scheppele explains how Viktor Orbán is undermining Hungarian democracy by democratic means. Learn more about Viktor Orbán.

Who is Walt Whitman?

(00:02:00 or p. 2 in the transcript)

Walter Whitman (1819 –1892) was a U.S. American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon. Learn more.

What is vaccine nationalism?

(00:25:45 or p. 13 in the transcript)

Vaccine nationalism is a term to describe national governments signing agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply their own populations with vaccines ahead of them becoming available for other countries. To learn more about vaccine nationalism and how to democratize vaccine access, we recommend episode 1 of season 2 of “Democracy in Question?” with Global Health expert Suerie Moon.