Fixing democracy

Fitim Gashi of Pristina daily Koha Ditore asked some questions last week. I answered: 

1. Having in mind the growing alarm about the wave of populism sweeping the Europe and USA, as well as the erosion of democratic safeguards in particular European states, such as Hungary, Poland, what can be said about the state of democracy today? Is it fair to say that democracy is in decline?

A: Democracy is facing serious challenges, but it still has capacity to respond to them. Leaders need to listen more carefully to citizens and try to represent them more fully.

2. Why is this happening? Which are the main factors contributing to the decline of the democracy?

A: It seems to me trade and immigration are the main issues, though in many countries corruption is a contributing factor. We should also recognize that racism and xenophobia are important contributing factors.

3. What can be done to prevent the situation from deteriorating?

A: Reducing the negative impacts of trade and immigration on relatively uneducated people in America and Europe would help. So too would more vigorous defense of a trading regime that has raised living standards and greater recognition that both America and Europe need young workers. I really don’t know what to do about racism and corruption. Exposing them may be the best antiseptic.

4. As it was recently seen in Hungary and Turkey, as well as in many cases in the past, leaders who have shown disregard about democratic norms have been reelected through popular vote. How can that be interpreted? Are people losing faith in democracy?

A: In Turkey, the election was certainly not free or fair. I hesitate to comment on Hungary, because I don’t follow it as much. Demagogues are using democratic forms to enhance their power. The only things that can stop that are the voters, parliaments, the media, and the courts.

5. In Balkans, we have leaders who are in power for decades, while the West, preoccupied with its problems, seems to have chosen “stabilitocracy” over democracy. Do you expect this situation to continue?

A: All countries deal with leaders who have come to power through the constitutional system in place, which is true of the current Balkan leaders. Only occasionally, when there is evidence of gross malfeasance, do the US and Europe weigh in against them, as they did recently in Macedonia against Gruevski. The only conscious choice I know for stability over democracy is in Bosnia, where Germany and the UK initiated a reform effort aimed at preventing the Americans from attempting one more time to change the Dayton constitution to make it more democratic.

6. Which is your opinion about the state of democracy in USA itself?

A: I think we have systemic problems. Our constitution favors states with smaller populations, enabling election of a president like Trump (and George W. Bush in his first term) who failed to win a majority of votes. We also have grossly gerrymandered Congressional districts that enable the Republicans to gain many more seats than the Democrats. And we have allowed Russian interference in our elections. These problems are unlikely to get fixed anytime soon. People who want change are going to have to come out to vote.