The hottest Democracy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Revealed: The new batch of laws undermining parliament

Striking 13 β€’ 1277 implied HN points β€’ 27 Oct 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Government Legislation Policy Law Democracy
  1. The government is quietly making significant changes to immigration, prisons, and drug laws without proper scrutiny or transparency, leading to severe consequences.
  2. The use of statutory instruments by the government allows ministers to create laws on the spot, bypassing normal parliamentary debates and scrutiny processes.
  3. The lack of accountability and assessment in passing new laws through statutory instruments is creating a functional and democratic problem, hindering understanding of impacts and consequences.

The Kaiser's Long Stare

Daily Dreher β€’ 1552 implied HN points β€’ 30 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Empires Institutions Leadership Geopolitics Democracy
  1. The novel 'The Radetzky March' explores the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through three generations of the von Trotta family.
  2. The book reflects on the importance of faith in institutions and the internal decay that can lead to their downfall.
  3. The text draws parallels between historical events and the current social and political challenges, highlighting the importance of an animating spirit within a society.

The global defeat of democracy: a scenario

Wyclif's Dust β€’ 1001 implied HN points β€’ 19 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Democracy International Conflict Autocracy Cold War
  1. A new conflict is developing between Western democracies and non-Western autocracies.
  2. Defeat in the global conflict between democracy and autocracies could lead to a potential erosion of liberalism.
  3. Emerging weaknesses in democracy could put the system at serious risk, especially in the face of a changing international landscape.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Rise of Counterfeit Democracy

The Garden of Forking Paths β€’ 2319 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Human Rights
  1. Outside of established democracies, there is a rise in counterfeit democracy - authoritarian rule disguising as democratic.
  2. Many countries pretend to be democracies, but are actually authoritarian - leading to a decline in global democracy.
  3. Counterfeit democracies use elections and democratic trappings to maintain power, but lack true democratic values and institutions.

Democracies, Dr. Putin Will See You Now

Surfing the Future β€’ 139 implied HN points β€’ 18 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Repression Sustainability Election interference
  1. Democracy is facing challenges globally, with a recurring pattern of decline observed in capitalism, democracy, and sustainability.
  2. Existential shocks are needed to reshape assumptions in the realms of Democracy and Sustainability.
  3. Leaders like Putin in power for long periods exhibit authoritarian tendencies, highlighting the need to revamp democratic systems.

Make America Hungary Again

Can We Still Govern? β€’ 148 implied HN points β€’ 13 Mar 24
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Media Control Higher education Bureaucracy
  1. The MAGA movement's admiration for Viktor Orban signifies a desire for authoritarianism over greatness, as demonstrated by Orban's undemocratic tactics in Hungary.
  2. Orban's success lies in his ability to consolidate power by controlling institutions like the media, judiciary, and higher education, mirroring patterns seen in the potential rise of American Orbanism.
  3. Orban's strategy includes increasing control over the bureaucracy to create a network of loyalists, leading to a corrupt system enabling his authoritarian rule, which American politicians are observing for potential application.

NOTES FROM THE ROAD

TRANSFORM with Marianne Williamson β€’ 3026 implied HN points β€’ 02 Apr 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Policy Elections Government Democracy Society
  1. The American people have a history of standing up and making things right when they realize the importance of a cause.
  2. The current economic situation in America is dire, but there is hope with a shift towards fair policies and economic justice.
  3. To address the challenges facing the country, it is essential for Americans to come together and make informed decisions about the future.

Federal Government Operatives And Soros Money Behind Plot To Keep Trump Off Ballot

Public β€’ 554 implied HN points β€’ 29 Dec 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Government Election Democracy Partisanship Conspiracy
  1. Maine's Secretary of State removed Trump from the state's 2024 primary ballot due to alleged involvement in the Capitol riot.
  2. There is disputed evidence on whether the Capitol incident was a coup attempt linked to Trump, according to some prosecutors and commentators.
  3. Nonprofit organizations are accused of using government ties and funding from sources like Soros to influence democracy.

West votes against democracy, human rights, cultural diversity at UN; promotes mercenaries, sanctions

Geopolitical Economy Report β€’ 797 implied HN points β€’ 26 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy Human Rights Sanctions Democracy Mercenaries
  1. The West voted against promoting democracy, human rights, and cultural diversity at the United Nations while supporting mercenaries and sanctions.
  2. In a UN session, resolutions condemning unilateral coercive measures (sanctions), promoting a democratic international order, and respecting human rights and cultural diversity were passed despite opposition.
  3. Another resolution condemned the use of mercenaries to violate human rights and impede peoples' right to self-determination, passing with majority support.

Putting the recent coups in the Sahel in broader perspective

An Africanist Perspective β€’ 1761 implied HN points β€’ 03 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Democracy Geopolitics Sovereignty
  1. The recent coups in the Sahel are not just about democratic backsliding, but also reflect state-building failures and shaky sovereignty, with conflicting incentives among various actors
  2. Public support for military intervention in politics in some of these countries indicates frustration with the failures of democracy to deliver, highlighting the need for meaningful change and democratic consolidation
  3. The discourse on self-determination arising from the current crisis presents an opportunity to rethink governance, repair social contracts, and foster local solutions to regional challenges in the Sahel

Lines in the sand

The Watch β€’ 550 implied HN points β€’ 14 Dec 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Authoritarianism Democracy Civil Rights Political Discourse
  1. The Republican Party and Donald Trump are showing signs of embracing authoritarianism at an alarming rate.
  2. Concerns about Trump's disregard for democratic norms have shifted from being dismissed as exaggeration to becoming a mainstream issue.
  3. It's important to challenge individuals in power, regardless of their political affiliation, about their stances on authoritarianism and threats to democracy.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day β€’ 314 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 24
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Civil War Slavery Democracy Congress
  1. The Civil War was a costly conflict that shocked the nation and prompted urgency to end it
  2. Abraham Lincoln pushed for bold action to save American democracy by addressing slavery through constitutional amendments
  3. The survival of American democracy hinged on the decisions made by Congress and the Administration during a tumultuous time

Years Of Planning Behind Democrats’ Turn Against Democracy

Public β€’ 480 implied HN points β€’ 20 Dec 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Elections Media Partisanship Democracy Trump presidency
  1. Democrats were behind an effort to prevent Trump from running for president in Colorado based on insurrection claims.
  2. The argument that Trump is a unique threat to democracy lacks substantial evidence.
  3. The adversarial relationship between the media and Trump actually benefited democracy by ensuring scrutiny and accountability.

federalism fixes this

bad cattitude β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 20 Feb 24
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Government Democracy Federalism Legislation Senate
  1. In a free market, consumer choices provide valuable information to producers, leading to better products and services.
  2. Monopolies created by governments can disrupt market mechanisms like pricing signals and consumer sovereignty, resulting in inefficiencies.
  3. The 17th Amendment fundamentally changed the US government structure by shifting power away from states' representation in the Senate to direct election by the people, impacting federalism and democratic principles.

Making sense of the coup in Gabon

An Africanist Perspective β€’ 1147 implied HN points β€’ 01 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Coup Africa Democracy Economy
  1. In Gabon, the recent coup was essentially a palace coup, with the president being ousted by the head of the presidential guard, and while there is popular discontent against the ruling family, evidence of a revolution was not clear.
  2. The coup in Gabon reflects deep dissatisfaction with the ruling family and the electoral process, with high levels of disapproval towards the former president as well as distrust towards the electoral commission.
  3. Compared to Sahelian coups, the situation in Gabon differs significantly due to factors such as its higher urbanization rate, richer economy, and demographic characteristics that could potentially pave the way for a more stable transition to competitive electoral politics.

"Knowingness" and the Politics of Ignorance

The Garden of Forking Paths β€’ 1965 implied HN points β€’ 12 May 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Democracy Polarization Culture Wars
  1. Misplaced faith in knowingness can lead to deliberate ignorance which poses a threat to democracies.
  2. Knowingness can be more damaging than polarization as it hampers the acceptance of fresh facts and different viewpoints.
  3. Combating knowingness is crucial in promoting intellectual curiosity and a collective approach to problem-solving in society.

What They Meant by Essential and Nonessential

COVID Reason β€’ 1847 implied HN points β€’ 18 Apr 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Policy Government Social Issues Civil Rights Democracy
  1. The distinction between essential and nonessential work was decided by a previously unknown agency called CISA.
  2. The terms essential and nonessential reshaped the commercial world in unprecedented ways.
  3. The categorization of essential and nonessential roles reveals a societal divide between those considered indispensable and those perceived as dispensable.

Open Weights, Open Society, Open Future

Future History β€’ 80 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Open Source Innovation Regulation Democracy
  1. Protect open source and open weights AI at all levels of society to avoid damaging the future economy
  2. The historical impact of restrictions on open sharing of ideas and software can have detrimental effects on economic value and innovation
  3. Opposition to open source AI is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of the benefits of open societies, economies, and the positive impact of open source software

BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT

The Nelson George Mixtape β€’ 176 implied HN points β€’ 07 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Activism Documentary Dictatorship Democracy Global Politics
  1. The film 'Bobi Wine: The People's President' documents his struggle to democratically oust Uganda's corrupt leader Yoweri Museveni.
  2. The story shows Bobi Wine's transformation from popular performer to Presidential candidate over a decade.
  3. The film highlights the importance of faith in democracy, lessons for Americans, and the energy of young people globally.

The Case for Pro-Democracy Rituals

The Garden of Forking Paths β€’ 1670 implied HN points β€’ 26 May 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Democracy Rituals Authoritarianism Patriotism
  1. Pro-democracy movements can benefit from utilizing the power of rituals to build strong social connections and a shared sense of purpose.
  2. Rituals have the ability to create a feeling of collective effervescence, fostering unity and a sense of belonging among participants.
  3. It is important for progressive and pro-democracy movements to embrace and develop rituals that celebrate inclusive values and community engagement in order to strengthen their causes.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls for nationwide protests to defend democracy against the consequences of his own policies

eugyppius: a plague chronicle β€’ 216 implied HN points β€’ 21 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Democracy Protests European Union Germany Government
  1. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls for nationwide protests to defend democracy against the consequences of his own policies
  2. Approval ratings for the German government have fallen to all-time lows due to misrule and failure
  3. Anti-government protests erupted across Germany in response to dissatisfaction with the current leadership

Germany opens citizenship to 1.5 million Turkish immigrants, then gets the vapours when Recep Erdoğan's "right-populist" and "authoritarian" AK Party reveals plans to establish a German offshoot

eugyppius: a plague chronicle β€’ 179 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Foreign Relations Migration Nationalism Democracy Human Rights
  1. Germany opened citizenship to 1.5 million Turkish immigrants, leading to concerns about the establishment of a German offshoot of Recep Erdoğan's AK Party
  2. The AK Party offshoot plans to fight for open borders and better social entitlements for people with foreign roots in Europe
  3. There is worry among German officials about the anti-democratic threats posed by the AK Party offshoot and the influence it may have on German politics

Diversity and the nation

Archedelia β€’ 904 implied HN points β€’ 19 Aug 23
πŸ“– Philosophy Identity Nationalism Democracy Representation Politics
  1. Part One of the series discussed the relationship between political representation, statistical representation, and visual representations of under-represented groups.
  2. Diversity as an ideal impacts the imaginative basis of democracy and social survey research forms imagined communities rivaling the national community.
  3. The birth of the modern nation-state emphasized a uniform 'national' consciousness for self-government and the formation of an 'imagined community' based on common identity.