Dead-mocracy?

1789 in Paris. 2013 in Kyiv. 2010 onwards in capitals across the Arab World. These are just a few examples of people erupting into protests against authoritarianismA form of government in which individual freedoms are severely limited by government power. Examples include Nazi Germany, Khmer Rogue Cambodia and contemporary China. that altered the course of history.

Yesterday's strikes may be less historic, but they were still important. Wednesday marked Britain's biggest strike day in over 10 years, with teachers, public transport drivers, university lecturers, civil servants and more all walking out of work.

The strikes have been called the "symptom of a sick society". Many think that it shows that the democracyA system of government based on the idea of rule by the people. that so many have aspired to is in crisis.

"Never assume the stability of a civilised democratic order," advises Martin Wolf. He is one of the world's best-known economic thinkers. And he has just released a new book on capitalismA form of economy characterised by private property and competition between companies. and democracy.

Wolf describes market capitalism and democracy as complementary. Capitalism places some above others as an incentive to achieve things, but democracy ensures that citizens stay equal. 

But democracy and capitalism are now both controversial issues.¹ Wolf thinks this is a result of economic instability and rising inequality, which make people lose faith in established systems.

"If the economy fails to serve the interests of the majority, the sense of shared citizenship will fray and demagoguesA leader who takes power by whipping up the people against the elites, usually in a cynical and self-serving way. will emerge," Wolf summarises. He thinks that capitalism's failures are behind modern democracy's troubles.

What is to be done? Wolf suggests some unconventional reforms to protect democracy. One is citizens' juries, which were used successfully in Ireland in 2016.²

He also suggests solutions to the "short-termism" of voting, suggesting either that mothers are given a vote for their infant children, or that voters are awarded votes according to their age, with younger people carrying up to five times more voting power than their grandparents.

Yes: We need to scrap democratic capitalism altogether. Capitalism is volatile and some people get lucky whilst others do not. This means there will always be insecurity, which puts democracy in danger constantly. We need a new system which does not have this flaw.

No: It is taking it too far to call these strikes symptoms of a "sickness". They are one small issue which would be easily solved by just boosting workers' wages.

Or... We do not need to scrap it, but we should take Wolf's suggestions of reform very seriously. Some little reforms to ensure that democracy plays its role in regulating capitalism could go a long way.