Democracy is about to collapse

Democracy may be on its way, replaced by a global network of authoritarian states.

Shawn Rosenberg, an esteemed psychologist at the University of California confounded the audience at the latest meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology held in Lisbon.

The 68-year-old professor is no stranger to such analyzes: in the 80s one of his studio showed how many voters choose candidates on the basis of their appearance alone. Ted to say it, it raised a lot of controversy but she was right.

This time Rosenberg presented an even more complex study that ranges between neurology and geopolitics, passing through futurology. If I had only 6 words I could sum it up with a very simple concept: democracy is devouring itself, and will soon finish its meal.

Ultimately, Rosenberg predicted the imminent demise of democracy in his study.

The ship sinks

In his presentation Rosenberg recognized in the political trend taking place in Brazil, UK, USA and EU (in variable form) a precise signal. An authoritarian state model is becoming more desirable for citizens than active civil engagement.

“Even in regimes considered stably democratic this type of governance will continue an inexorable decline until collapse,” he said during his speech.

Everything stems from a fundamental problem: democracy is tiring. It is hard work and requires enormous commitment from those who intend to take part in it. It requires participants to respect those who have different looks or points of view. It requires balance, discipline, the ability to separate propaganda from facts. And our brain, in essence, is not built to self-regulate. We are predisposed to have only the defects of the sheep, and rarely the merits of the shepherds.

The progressive transition from an 'open' internet to social media has influenced people's behaviour, leading them to absorb only content that confirms their inclinations, and preferring this content to objective sources of information or the critical analysis of reality.

In conclusion, most people are unable to democratically understand or evaluate culture, institutions, practices or citizenship.

Shawn Rosenberg

The conclusion that Rosenberg inspires me is that democracy dies around us because it no longer exists within us.

Accepting our incomplete nature means cultivating the ability to self-govern on a collective basis, given the obvious individual limitations.

Direct and widespread commitment in democracy is an exercise of our desire to proceed united.

Direct and widespread commitment allows us to become infallible "sheep" who learn to guide themselves, without falling under the control of the few wolves they find around.