One of democracy’s fundamental advantages over other non-representative forms of government is its inherent link to human dignity. A functioning democratic government requires more than political and economic expediency. Democracy binds governments to a social contract with their citizens, not only to respect their diverse voices, but recognize their political and economic contribution to the society. Breach of this contract may lead to popular backlash against institutions and the government. History shows that demand for dignity and recognition has animated many political movements from the French Revolution to the Arab Spring. Voters now frequently demonstrate their frustration at the ballot box, voting for populist and sometimes authoritarian candidates that present a challenge to democratic governance. Join us to learn more about how economic and political dignity has played a role in the political crisis of the last decade.
