How to Save Democracy | Brian Klaas | TEDxWandsworth

“Imagine a world where democracy lives up to its lofty promise… where problems are solved by debate and compromise rather than vitriol and internet trolls. A nice thought isn’t it?” asks Brian Klaas. As a scholar of democracy and authoritarianism, he’s seen fear-and-division politics rising across the world, but says we’re more powerful than we think in reversing this trend. Beyond the uncomfortable stats of our civic shortcomings; he shares moments with those he’s met risking their freedom and their lives for a democratic choice; and offers five concrete ways we can start changing what we don’t like. Dr Brian Klaas is an expert on democracy, authoritarianism, American politics, Western foreign policy, political violence, and elections -- and the security and economic risks of all these challenges.
Dr Klaas is the author of "The Despot's Accomplice: How the West is Aiding & Abetting the Decline of Democracy". He is a Fellow in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics. Dr Klaas has advised governments, US political campaigns, the European Union, multi-billion dollar investors, international NGOs, and international politicians.
Dr Klaas writes a regular column in DemocracyPost, based at The Washington Post. He is also a regular contributor on a wide array of print publications, as well as media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, BBC News, Sky News, NPR News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, BBC World Service, and many others.
Dr Klaas is an American, speaks French and is proficient in Arabic in addition to his native English. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@starbeck52]

Currently, reading Brian’s book “Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us”. What a great writer and material.

[@longshotny]

Yeah I heard another interview with him.. He & his book seem very interesting 👍🏿

[@minecraftminertime]

1. Vote in every election, not just the big ones. The people we elect at the local level become the people we elect at the national level. 2. Before every election, talk to 10 people you know about voting and organize coffee or lunch to go voting together. 3. In between elections, write to politicians, protest, call, register people to vote, and ask your friends to do the same. 4. Reach out to someone who views the world completely differently from you and try to find common ground. Democracy requires compromise to function. 5. Run for office or organize a new political group, even at the most local level. Longer-term solutions to save democracy are much harder and take much longer. We can't expect others to make the change we want to see.

[@hippymoustacherides]

Fantastic. He’s got an hour long talk in I want to say Denmark…that opened my eyes in great new ways. About to read his book.

[@onisillossekkides9005]

Truly wonderful. I will watch this every time my political energy wanes

[@smarttgirl]

Onisillos Sekkides I agree. The book, The Despots Apprentice is even more inspiring.

[@googlellc900]

we do not need democracy

[@perrydickerson9055]

This presentation is what, about 2 years old and here it is with 87 thumbs up out of 3709 views. How can that be for a TEDx event? Brian made a good argument for bridge building, talking to people and finding common ground and several other good ideas. Compare and contrast that to what he is saying on major media outlets now. I just finished up over at a major media place and Brian is advocating for re-education for around one half of the American public, describing the people on the other side of the fence as "cultist". Brian did indeed have a list of other sicknesses possessed by the "other side". He said, here in, that folks have power that they leave on the table and that is a speed bump for democracy. Well what do we have if we don't have a effective democracy? I would suppose we have fascism with a lot of our leaders believing that government is the new "God". Now it has been that way for a long time. The idea of equity comes from the Roman Republic and what equity meant to the Romans (equus=horse) is that the more horses you had the bigger your vote. It works this way to day. Do you have 400 million to add to your vote in a must win battle ground state? It looks to me that a lot of people see things as they are and avoid politics. Going forward that will change as the current admin screws with peoples rice boll, I believe, and hope I am wrong, that a lot of the folks will be looking for a old testament solution.

[@TigredelMar77]

Democracy doesn't work if people don't participate, true that!!

[@DrMunishRaizada]

5 points - very well said!

[@Lalallalu]

Great ✨🏆

[@alvinloy5358]

I just spent 17 minutes watching this, just to hear this guy preaching about the importance of voting? Tell that to the people of Myanmar. Despite voting, it still didnt matter in the end

[@lloydsims1573]

Are you promoting pure democracy or our representative republic? If we revised our term limits so candidates and office holders would be more aware or real issues, our national government would progressively improve.

[@Peter-sj3zi]

Thailand is a democracy and is a US ally. I think the 15 year jail is for criticizing the King. It is fine to criticize the government. Is it fine to publicly criticize the Queen in UK?

[@JaKommenterar]

Yes it is fine to publicly criticise the Queen in the UK and any other democracy, you won’t be jailed. Any country that jails people for criticising their king or queen is not a democracy.

[@lancewalker2595]

How exactly is a means by which to obtain votes going to generate wealth? Does voting create economic growth now? INCREDIBLE! I was so foolish, I merely believed that what I was doing in voting was ticking a box next to the name of my favorite bureaucrat, turns out that little gesture was actually a transformative act of creation! Thanks for letting me know man, God what would we do without political science majors?

[@martinobrien7110]

JAMAL KHASHOGGI