In this episode of The Social Contract, we explore the paradox of democracy in the 21st century: cherished yet fragile, admired yet under siege. From declining youth faith in democratic values to the rise of authoritarian nostalgia, we confront what happens when trust—the lifeblood of democratic societies—begins to erode.
Is democracy failing to deliver, or are we failing democracy?
With insights from thinkers like Yuval Noah Harari and Aristotle, we examine how individualism, institutional decay, and polarisation are reshaping the relationship between the citizen and the state. Can we renew the promise of democracy for a generation raised in algorithmic echo chambers? Or has the “will of the people” become too volatile to govern?
Join us as we dissect the difference between apathy and antipathy, the importance of accountability, and why the ballot box is no longer enough to keep democracy alive.