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One size doesn’t fit all: Democracy is not always the best form of government

One size doesn’t fit all: Democracy is not always the best form of government

FromIntelligence Squared


One size doesn’t fit all: Democracy is not always the best form of government

FromIntelligence Squared

ratings:
Length:
51 minutes
Released:
Nov 11, 2016
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. So said Winston Churchill and who would disagree? One man, one vote, the rule of law, equality and a free press. These are the Enlightenment principles the West has developed over the centuries and fought tooth and nail in countless wars to preserve or to propagate.

But is the assumption that democracy always leads to a more liberal and tolerant society correct? Many would argue that it can lead to quite illiberal outcomes especially where there is profound ethnic division. Take for example Yugoslavia. Slobodan Milosevic – the democratically elected president – left a legacy of more than 200,000 dead in Bosnia and ethnically cleansed more than 800,000 Albanians from their homes in Kosovo. And what if democracy were installed in Syria? It’s not hard to imagine the outcome for the minority groups who for decades have enjoyed the protection of Assad’s regime.

Is democracy always the best outcome?

Arguing in favour of the... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
Released:
Nov 11, 2016
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Intelligence Squared is the world’s leading forum for debate and intelligent discussion. Live and online we take you to the heart of the issues that matter, in the company of some of the world’s sharpest minds and most exciting orators. Join the debate at www.intelligencesquared.com and download our weekly podcasts every Tuesday and Friday. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.