The United States, to hear some tell it, is currently experiencing a “plutocratic coup.” Its democracy is in decline, reports have warned.
In light of that, I’d like to share a slightly personal story.
One of the most impactful experiences of my life was when I spent two months living in Tunisia as a trainer with Journalists for Human Rights.
I was there one month before a referendum vote that consolidated the president’s power. I saw the harrowing headlines as he made undemocratic moves.
Now, people are writing obituaries for the democracy that was once touted as the success story of the Arab Spring.
The thing that struck me the most, however, as a privileged foreigner who just dropped in for a few months: democracy failing can feel incredibly normal — especially when you’re not one of the vulnerable members of a society.
That reality keeps me up at night. It should serve as a warning to us all.
Let me explain what I mean.
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