Behind the Scenes: On the Crisis of Liberal Democracy

Everyone is talking about democracy and its crisis. But what do we really mean when we talk about democracy? Jörg Baberowski reminds us of its great strength: it doesn’t allow political opponents to become bitter enemies, because even the loser has hope of winning the next election. A democracy that fears the feelings of the people and restricts the political space strips itself of this strength. If we want to preserve our freedom, we must regain sovereignty over our decisions. Otherwise, the proponents of authoritarianism will easily convince us that dictatorship is the true form of democracy.

Everywhere, those who invoke the people must be subject to critical scrutiny from those they claim to represent. Populism is therefore always inherent in the model of representation. But vocal opposition is not simply an inappropriate revolt of the “rabble”; it is an indication that many people feel invisible and unrepresented. Populism is a cry of pain that demands attention. In this sense, it is also a revival of democracy. Those who refuse to listen to dissenting opinions and categorically exclude them rob democracy of its greatest strength: its ability to enable us to find common ground even amidst disagreement. When political opponents deny each other the right to exist, the dissenting voice is transformed into a monster. This means the end of democracy. This book, therefore, seeks to satisfy everyone and satisfy no one at the same time, and to demonstrate that partisan conflict is the very essence of democracy.