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The Liberalism of Refuge
Frustrated by intractable inequality, oppression, and corruption in liberal societies, and disillusioned by liberalism's failures, many are walking away. But it is precisely for that reason that the liberal societies remain worth admiring: they offer refuge from those very individuals they empower, placing limits on rulers and allowing an escape hatch from political life's worst abuses. Sanctuaries can be found in opposition political parties, independent institutions, reasonably autonomous local communities, powerful civil society organizations, and the market economy. There is something noble in sanctuary, in the safety and possibility it offers for constructing something new.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Education
America’s Crisis of Civic Virtue
The world is losing faith in capitalism and democracy-what a generation ago would have been unthinkable. Many blame "the other party." Others would point to the flaws in capitalism, how market systems increase inequality, which is perforce undemocratic, and believe that the only way to take control of modern economies is to strengthen government and weaken market forces. That's a false conclusion, because in fact, capitalism does reinforce democracy, and they both are under attack. But that attack is in the decline in civic virtue, honesty and civility, in politics, in the media, academia amongst other things, which restoration we should address as number one.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Education
Misunderstanding Democratic Backsliding
One of the most common explanations of the ongoing wave of global democratic backsliding is that democracies are failing to deliver adequate socioeconomic goods to their citizens, leading voters to forsake democracy and embrace antidemocratic politicians who undermine democracy once elected. Yet a close look at twelve notable cases of recent backsliding suggests that this thesis, while having some explanatory power in some cases, has little in others; and even where it does apply, nuanced interpretation is required. In short, the main cause of backsliding is not the failure of democracies to deliver, but their failure to constrain the predatory political ambitions and methods of certain elected leaders. Consequently, those policymakers and donors who would seek to contain backsliding will need to time their diplomatic and aid interventions accordingly.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Education
When Democracy Is on the Ballot
Democratic self-rule is one perpetual argument about what democracy is. So, in normal times, democracy renews its legitimacy just by going through the motions. It is when everything feels critical that the question driving any particular election into polar extremes is about the commitment of adversaries to playing by the rules of democratic procedures. Polarization can go toxic, so bad in these conditions it can kill the very regime in whose preservational name both sides fight. All democracies need serious institutional reform, but we won't start if we stick with the illusion that the problems of democracy would be solved if only we could just defeat the authoritarian populists at the ballot box. It is the institutions, not just the players, that need changing.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
AI and Catastrophic Risk
Since OpenAI released the very large language models Chat-GPT and GPT-4, the possible dangers of AI have gained widespread public attention. The author discusses the threats to democracy from the possibility of "rogue AIs"-powerful and dangerous AIs that would execute harmful goals irrespective of whether the outcomes are intended by humans-in this essay. In the author's view, research into safe and defensive AIs should be done by a multilateral, international network of research laboratories to mitigate against the risk that rogue AIs present to democracy and geopolitical stability.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
Power, Performance, and Legitimacy
Today, democracies remain in a potent and protracted recession, and they have retreated from the ideological struggle against autocracy. We can restore the world's democratic momentum through power, performance, and legitimacy. To rejuvenate the support for democracy across regions and generations, democracies must generate economic prosperity and opportunity while containing corruption, crime, and abuses of power. But we have seen that liberal democracies can be weak and in retreat; they need to flex muscles in defense of free and fair elections, independent media, and the rule of law. Democracy can never be secure anywhere in the world where dictatorships repress rights, censor information, and propagate disinformation. Every defense of democracy is a source of inspiration and instruction. We need to get serious again about promoting the values, experiences, requirements, and institutions of democracy. And we must do so on the scale, with the scope and ease of access in many languages, required to save it.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Education
Who Decides What Is Democratic?
What is "democratic" depends on the values one attaches to democracy. The distinction that determines the answer is between minimalist and maximalist conceptions of democracy. Defending democracy requires a positive, forward-looking program of reform.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
The Power of Liberal Nationalism
Diversity is no threat to democracy. What puts democracy at risk are the demagogues who rob minorities of their rights and then insist that granting them extraordinary powers is essential to protecting the ethnic majority from the supposed depredations of minorities and immigrants. Just about everywhere, this kind of demagogue has managed to have the best of it. Furthermore, they have insisted on their superiority as patriots and protectors of the nation. The liberal defenders of democracy have frequently been oblivious to the power of nationalism, considering it a deplorable atavism. If they are to defend democracy effectively in multiethnic societies, liberals will need to resist the temptation to equate nationalism with nativism and ethnonationalism, seize the flag, and arm themselves with emotionally resonant nationaldemocratic narratives that appeal more widely than the biased tales spun by the illiberal foes of free government.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
Do you need to pay 18% GST on 'loss margin' of EV resale?
The recent decision of the GST Council to impose an 18 per cent tax on the resale of used electric vehicles has been a bit of a mess. The explanation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman talked about a tax on the "margin value" of resales, misguiding people into believing that individuals selling their used cars would fall prey to this tax.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Education
Donald Trump wants to retake control of Panama Canal
US President-elect Donald Trump stoked a row after he suggested that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal, which was relinquished in 1999. This drew a sharp response from Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino, who said such an idea would never be entertained.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
US warplane shot down in Red Sea 'friendly fire' incident
Washington: Two US Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent "friendly fire" incident, the US military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels. Both aviators were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken two-seat F/A-18 aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become, with ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite US and European military coalitions patrolling the area.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
Israel Genocide In Gaza
Amnesty International's research has sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit the starkest of all crimes under international law-genocide-against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, the organization said today in a landmark new report.
By Global Updateabout a year ago in Journal
