Democracy and Power in
the Age of Uncertainty: A Roundtable Across Time
This is the report of an imaginary roundtable discussion about democracy, its present and future. This discussion between the three thinkers was moderated by this blog with the assistance of M365 Copilot.
Introduction:
Democracy at a Crossroads
Democracy, once
heralded as the ultimate guarantor of freedom and stability, now faces a
paradox. It is globally dominant yet deeply fragile. From populist waves to
algorithmic governance, from climate crises to geopolitical fragmentation, the
question is no longer whether democracy will prevail, but whether it can adapt
without losing its soul.
To explore this dilemma, my blog convened an extraordinary fictitious roundtable: Plato (Greece, 4th century BCE),
the philosopher who first dissected democracy’s vulnerabilities; Yuval Noah
Harari, historian and futurist born in Israel (1976); and Victor Ângelo (born 1949
in Portugal), a veteran diplomat, security strategist and opinion-maker. Their
dialogue spans millennia, weaving ancient wisdom with contemporary urgency.
I. Plato: The Perils
of Excess Liberty
Plato begins with a
warning that echoes across centuries:
“Democracy arises from
liberty, but liberty unrestrained breeds disorder. When citizens prize freedom
above virtue, they elevate flatterers over guardians. In your age, I see
democracies intoxicated by opinion, mistaking noise for wisdom.”
Plato’s critique is
not nostalgia for aristocracy; it is a call for reasoned governance. For him,
democracy’s Achilles’ heel lies in its susceptibility to demagoguery—a
vulnerability magnified today by social media and populist rhetoric.
Plato refers then to a historical case study:
Athens and the Fall of the Polis, an example he recommends we should keep in mind. In the 5th century BCE, Athens pioneered direct democracy, granting citizens
unprecedented voice. Yet, this liberty bred volatility. Demagogues like Cleon
exploited popular passions, leading to reckless decisions such as the Sicilian
Expedition—a disaster that hastened Athens’ decline.
II. Harari: Power
Beyond Politics
Harari shifts the lens
from political theory to technological reality: “Plato feared the mob;
today, we fear the algorithm. Power no longer resides solely in parliaments—it
flows through data streams. Surveillance capitalism and AI shape desires before
citizens even vote.”
Harari further argues that
information asymmetry—once the privilege of kings—is now the domain of tech
giants. Democracies must reinvent themselves not only to regulate technology
but to redefine freedom in an era where autonomy is algorithmically curated. He is concerned with the fragility of the institutions. And he adds that the Weimar
Republic (1919–1933) offers a sobering lesson. Born from the ashes of empire,
it embraced democratic ideals but lacked institutional resilience. Economic
crises and propaganda eroded trust, paving the way for authoritarianism. Today’s democracies face a similar
risk—not from hyperinflation, but from information disorder.
III. Ângelo: The
Geopolitical Dimension
Victor Ângelo brings a
practitioner’s perspective: “Democracy remains the
most legitimate system, but legitimacy is under siege. Populism exploits fear;
disinformation corrodes trust and promotes hatred. Meanwhile, global governance lags behind transnational threats—climate change, cyber warfare, international criminal cartels, pandemics.”
For Ângelo, the
challenge is collective action. No democracy can safeguard itself alone when
crises are borderless. He calls for alliances of values, anchored in human
rights and the rule of law, to counter authoritarian resurgence and systemic
shocks.
He reminds us of the post-Cold War optimism that has been replaced by pessimism and fear: "The 1990s were hailed
as the “end of history” (Fukuyama, 1992), with liberal democracy seemingly
triumphant. Yet, the unipolar moment bred complacency. Institutions like the UN
and NATO struggled to adapt to asymmetric threats, while globalisation outpaced
governance. The result: a vacuum exploited by authoritarian powers and
non-state actors."
The participants discussed then some examples that show the pressures democracy is under. For instance, the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) represent pioneering
efforts to regulate tech monopolies and curb disinformation. Yet enforcement
remains uneven, and AI governance is still embryonic. It is also a matter that is seen differently by the Europeans and the US leaders and key digital entrepreneurs based in America.
Still in the US, polarisation and election denialism have strained democratic norms. The January
6th Capitol attack underscored vulnerabilities in institutional resilience. Ângelo added that President Trump's decisions taken since the beginning of his second mandate have equally challenged the authority of key institutions that play a vital role in the power balance. Those decisions should be seen as serious threats to the existing Constitution-based democracy, to the democratic equilibrium and to the media, among others.
Other situations were also mentioned.
India: The world’s
largest democracy faces challenges from majoritarian politics and restrictions
on press freedom, raising questions about the balance between stability and
pluralism. The Global South:
Democracies in Africa and Latin America grapple with debt crises and climate
shocks, which authoritarian actors exploit to undermine governance. And Thailand, which is an unavoidable case study: Since 1932, the country has fluctuated between civilian governments and authoritarian regimes, experiencing at least 13 coups. These recurring crises reflect deep structural tensions between popular movements advocating inclusive governance and a conservative establishment. The result is a “constitutional samsara”—a cycle of birth and death that illustrates the fragility but also the resistance of democratic systems.
The Moderator asked for actionable policy recommendations.
The participants listed a number of actions that must be taken into account: Civic Education for the Digital Age; Embed critical
thinking and media literacy in national curricula; Promote ethical AI
awareness among citizens and leaders; Expand frameworks like
the EU Digital Services Act to include algorithmic transparency; Establish multilateral
bodies for AI governance; Protect the independence of the judiciaries and the media; Develop rapid-response
mechanisms for election integrity and cyber threats; Create a Democracy
Partnership Forum, within the UN System, for coordinated global action; Link trade agreements
to democratic standards.
To conclude the roundtable, the Moderator stated that the discussion had underlined that democracy is not a
static achievement; it is a perpetual task. As Plato reminds us, liberty
without virtue decays into tyranny. Harari warns that adaptability is the price
of survival. Ângelo underscores that global, truthful solidarity is democracy’s lifeline in a
fractured world.
Before closing the debate and thanking the three participants, the Moderator raised a final question: What is the future of democracy?
Plato responded that without wisdom, democracy decays into tyranny. Cultivate reason above passion.
For Harari, without adaptability, democracy becomes obsolete. Embrace innovation, but guard against its perils.
Ângelo expressed the opinion that without solidarity, democracy weakens. Build trust—within societies and across nations.
Moderator: Thank you, gentlemen. The dialogue between past insight and present urgency reminds us: democracy is not a given; it is a never-ending task.
End of the imaginary roundtable.
