The world moves so fast now that democracy can’t keep up. China, Singapore, and some other undemocratic countries can make smart, long-term fiscal decisions faster.
The world moves so fast now that democracy can’t keep up. China, Singapore, and some other undemocratic countries can make smart, long-term fiscal decisions faster while their rivals remain mired in democratic gridlock. Businesses and information move faster than the lawmakers and regulators who are supposed to track them in democracies. Elections in most of the world are operated using 20th century technologies and under 18th century rules, even as the Internet puts power and choice at the fingertips of the people. Harvard professor and Deng Xiaoping biographer Ezra Vogel, European Union watcher and civic participation expert Janice Thomson, and attorney and activist Christine Pelosi, author of Campaign Boot Camp 2.0: Basic Training for Candidates, Staffers, Volunteers, and Nonprofits, visit Zócalo to explore whether democracy can catch up with the world, or whether it’s doomed to lag behind.
This event is part of our Searching for Democracy initiative, and is produced in partnership with Zócalo Public Square. Click here to read the takeaway.
