one of my earliest childhood memories is my parents grandpa’s relative sitting
my parents grandpa’s relative sitting
my parents grandpa’s relative sitting around the kitchen table and telling
around the kitchen table and telling
around the kitchen table and telling jokes I didn’t understand at all and the
jokes I didn’t understand at all and the
jokes I didn’t understand at all and the reason is that they grew up in communism
reason is that they grew up in communism
reason is that they grew up in communism and I would tell these old political
and I would tell these old political
and I would tell these old political jokes which had references to obese
jokes which had references to obese
jokes which had references to obese people that I didn’t know and they also
people that I didn’t know and they also
people that I didn’t know and they also had the sense of you know bitter
had the sense of you know bitter
had the sense of you know bitter political irony and a sense of
political irony and a sense of
political irony and a sense of powerlessness that I in my life couldn’t
powerlessness that I in my life couldn’t
powerlessness that I in my life couldn’t quite relate to but I have to say over
quite relate to but I have to say over
quite relate to but I have to say over the last couple of years as we’ve seen
the last couple of years as we’ve seen
the last couple of years as we’ve seen the rise of populism all around the
the rise of populism all around the
the rise of populism all around the world as we’ve seen Britain go to
world as we’ve seen Britain go to
world as we’ve seen Britain go to Black’s it as we’ve seen the election of
Black’s it as we’ve seen the election of
Black’s it as we’ve seen the election of Donald Trump I started to remember some
Donald Trump I started to remember some
Donald Trump I started to remember some of those old jerks so I’ll tell you one
of those old jerks so I’ll tell you one
of those old jerks so I’ll tell you one of them today
of them today
of them today it’s from the Soviet Union but it’s easy
it’s from the Soviet Union but it’s easy
it’s from the Soviet Union but it’s easy to understand a man is worker walking
to understand a man is worker walking
to understand a man is worker walking home after work late at night and he
home after work late at night and he
home after work late at night and he sees another guy who’s completely drunk
sees another guy who’s completely drunk
sees another guy who’s completely drunk standing by the side of the road farang
standing by the side of the road farang
standing by the side of the road farang out his guts into regatta and as soon as
out his guts into regatta and as soon as
out his guts into regatta and as soon as he sees this guy his face brightens up
he sees this guy his face brightens up
he sees this guy his face brightens up he walks over he puts a hand on his
he walks over he puts a hand on his
he walks over he puts a hand on his shoulder and he says my dear comrade
shoulder and he says my dear comrade
shoulder and he says my dear comrade I completely grieve your political
I completely grieve your political
I completely grieve your political analysis you see I most of you in this
analysis you see I most of you in this
analysis you see I most of you in this room most of the people watching this
room most of the people watching this
room most of the people watching this online we’ve spent most of our lives in
online we’ve spent most of our lives in
online we’ve spent most of our lives in ordinary times in ordinary times the
ordinary times in ordinary times the
ordinary times in ordinary times the stakes of politics are high they always
stakes of politics are high they always
stakes of politics are high they always are but we have an understanding that we
are but we have an understanding that we
are but we have an understanding that we can figure out our disagreements through
can figure out our disagreements through
can figure out our disagreements through peaceful democratic means that if we
peaceful democratic means that if we
peaceful democratic means that if we fight for a just cause and we’re
fight for a just cause and we’re
fight for a just cause and we’re defeated then justice isn’t declined
defeated then justice isn’t declined
defeated then justice isn’t declined forever it might be deferred until
forever it might be deferred until
forever it might be deferred until tomorrow but if we lose this battle
tomorrow but if we lose this battle
tomorrow but if we lose this battle there’s always another way to win the
there’s always another way to win the
there’s always another way to win the fight and my fear is that we’re now
fight and my fear is that we’re now
fight and my fear is that we’re now entering an era of it’s quite different
entering an era of it’s quite different
entering an era of it’s quite different we’ve seen the election in countries
we’ve seen the election in countries
we’ve seen the election in countries which had gained the freedom when the
which had gained the freedom when the
which had gained the freedom when the Berlin Wall fell a few hundred years
Berlin Wall fell a few hundred years
Berlin Wall fell a few hundred years from now they build this vibrant
from now they build this vibrant
from now they build this vibrant imperfect but free liberal democracies
imperfect but free liberal democracies
imperfect but free liberal democracies but now in Poland and Hungary we’ve seen
but now in Poland and Hungary we’ve seen
but now in Poland and Hungary we’ve seen the election of people
the election of people
the election of people already abolished the independence of
already abolished the independence of
already abolished the independence of most of a country’s courts who’ve
most of a country’s courts who’ve
most of a country’s courts who’ve undermined the freedom of the media
undermined the freedom of the media
undermined the freedom of the media who’ve brought it to a point where the
who’ve brought it to a point where the
who’ve brought it to a point where the opposition no longer knows whether they
opposition no longer knows whether they
opposition no longer knows whether they have a fair chance of unseating the
have a fair chance of unseating the
have a fair chance of unseating the government in the next election in
government in the next election in
government in the next election in Western Europe we see here in Germany
Western Europe we see here in Germany
Western Europe we see here in Germany the rise of a far-right party that’s
the rise of a far-right party that’s
the rise of a far-right party that’s likely to be in the Bundestag my
likely to be in the Bundestag my
likely to be in the Bundestag my national parliament for the first time
national parliament for the first time
national parliament for the first time since world war ii in france marine
since world war ii in france marine
since world war ii in france marine lepen didn’t win but 2017 presidential
lepen didn’t win but 2017 presidential
lepen didn’t win but 2017 presidential elections but she got 33% of the vote
elections but she got 33% of the vote
elections but she got 33% of the vote twice as much as her father did 15 years
twice as much as her father did 15 years
twice as much as her father did 15 years ago and in the United States we now have
ago and in the United States we now have
ago and in the United States we now have a man in the White House who has deep
a man in the White House who has deep
a man in the White House who has deep and evident disregard for most basic
and evident disregard for most basic
and evident disregard for most basic norms and rules of liberal democracy now
norms and rules of liberal democracy now
norms and rules of liberal democracy now all of this didn’t come as a complete
all of this didn’t come as a complete
all of this didn’t come as a complete surprise to me because over the last few
surprise to me because over the last few
surprise to me because over the last few years as a political scientist I’ve been
years as a political scientist I’ve been
years as a political scientist I’ve been working on people’s attitudes towards
working on people’s attitudes towards
working on people’s attitudes towards democracy on the deep disenchantment
democracy on the deep disenchantment
democracy on the deep disenchantment they have not just with particular
they have not just with particular
they have not just with particular governments but with a political system
governments but with a political system
governments but with a political system itself and some of the things that I
itself and some of the things that I
itself and some of the things that I found were quite shocking in the United
found were quite shocking in the United
found were quite shocking in the United States for example when you ask older
States for example when you ask older
States for example when you ask older people born in the 1930s and 1940s how
people born in the 1930s and 1940s how
people born in the 1930s and 1940s how important it is to them to live in a
important it is to them to live in a
important it is to them to live in a democracy over two-thirds say really
democracy over two-thirds say really
democracy over two-thirds say really important essential when you ask
important essential when you ask
important essential when you ask Millennials born since 1980
Millennials born since 1980
Millennials born since 1980 less than one-third say that it’s
less than one-third say that it’s
less than one-third say that it’s crucial to them to live in a democracy
crucial to them to live in a democracy
crucial to them to live in a democracy even when you ask about pretty radical
even when you ask about pretty radical
even when you ask about pretty radical alternatives to democracy there’s a
alternatives to democracy there’s a
alternatives to democracy there’s a growing number of people who endorse
growing number of people who endorse
growing number of people who endorse those twenty years ago one in 16
those twenty years ago one in 16
those twenty years ago one in 16 Americans said that they liked the idea
Americans said that they liked the idea
Americans said that they liked the idea of army rule today it’s one and six and
of army rule today it’s one and six and
of army rule today it’s one and six and it’s not just about the United States in
it’s not just about the United States in
it’s not just about the United States in Europe to support for a strongman leader
Europe to support for a strongman leader
Europe to support for a strongman leader who doesn’t have to bother with
who doesn’t have to bother with
who doesn’t have to bother with parliament and elections as rising in
parliament and elections as rising in
parliament and elections as rising in Germany one in six Germans believed that
Germany one in six Germans believed that
Germany one in six Germans believed that 20 years ago now it’s 1 and 3 in the
20 years ago now it’s 1 and 3 in the
20 years ago now it’s 1 and 3 in the United Kingdom and was 1 in 4 20 years
United Kingdom and was 1 in 4 20 years
United Kingdom and was 1 in 4 20 years ago and now every second Brit says for
ago and now every second Brit says for
ago and now every second Brit says for he likes the idea of a strong man leader
he likes the idea of a strong man leader
he likes the idea of a strong man leader so I think we need to change our
so I think we need to change our
so I think we need to change our understanding of a political situation
understanding of a political situation
understanding of a political situation we have we’re now living in
we have we’re now living in
we have we’re now living in extraordinary times in extraordinary
extraordinary times in extraordinary
extraordinary times in extraordinary times the stakes of politics aren’t just
times the stakes of politics aren’t just
times the stakes of politics aren’t just high
high
high they’re existential if justice is
they’re existential if justice is
they’re existential if justice is deferred today it may be out of reach
deferred today it may be out of reach
deferred today it may be out of reach indefinitely
indefinitely
indefinitely and if we lose the next few decisive
and if we lose the next few decisive
and if we lose the next few decisive battles but we might lose the whole
battles but we might lose the whole
battles but we might lose the whole fight so one important question is how
fight so one important question is how
fight so one important question is how this came about because to know what we
this came about because to know what we
this came about because to know what we do we have to have an understanding of
do we have to have an understanding of
do we have to have an understanding of the causes of its popular streisand I
the causes of its popular streisand I
the causes of its popular streisand I want to say this a little bit about that
want to say this a little bit about that
want to say this a little bit about that the first is economic stagnation I’m in
the first is economic stagnation I’m in
the first is economic stagnation I’m in stagnation of living standards for
stagnation of living standards for
stagnation of living standards for ordinary people all through the history
ordinary people all through the history
ordinary people all through the history of democratic stability we’ve seen a
of democratic stability we’ve seen a
of democratic stability we’ve seen a rapid increase in living standards for
rapid increase in living standards for
rapid increase in living standards for average people that’s no longer the case
average people that’s no longer the case
average people that’s no longer the case in the United States from 1935 for 1930
in the United States from 1935 for 1930
in the United States from 1935 for 1930 to 1960 the standard of living of the
to 1960 the standard of living of the
to 1960 the standard of living of the average American doubled from 1960 to
average American doubled from 1960 to
average American doubled from 1960 to 1985 it doubled again and since 1985
1985 it doubled again and since 1985
1985 it doubled again and since 1985 it’s essentially been stagnant mat
it’s essentially been stagnant mat
it’s essentially been stagnant mat really changes how people think about
really changes how people think about
really changes how people think about politics I never laughed politicians
politics I never laughed politicians
politics I never laughed politicians been ever completely trusted them but
been ever completely trusted them but
been ever completely trusted them but they used to say you know what I’m doing
they used to say you know what I’m doing
they used to say you know what I’m doing twice as well as my parents where my
twice as well as my parents where my
twice as well as my parents where my kids are going to do twice as well as me
kids are going to do twice as well as me
kids are going to do twice as well as me let’s give him the benefit of a doubt
let’s give him the benefit of a doubt
let’s give him the benefit of a doubt and now they’re saying you know what
and now they’re saying you know what
and now they’re saying you know what I’ve worked really hard all of my life
I’ve worked really hard all of my life
I’ve worked really hard all of my life and I don’t have much to show for it and
and I don’t have much to show for it and
and I don’t have much to show for it and my kids are probably going to do worse
my kids are probably going to do worse
my kids are probably going to do worse than me so let’s throw some against
than me so let’s throw some against
than me so let’s throw some against the wall and see what sticks the second
the wall and see what sticks the second
the wall and see what sticks the second thing is about identity I think we
thing is about identity I think we
thing is about identity I think we underestimate the degree to its most
underestimate the degree to its most
underestimate the degree to its most democracies were founded on a
democracies were founded on a
democracies were founded on a mono-ethnic basis in Germany in Poland
mono-ethnic basis in Germany in Poland
mono-ethnic basis in Germany in Poland and Hungary in France in Italy all of
and Hungary in France in Italy all of
and Hungary in France in Italy all of those countries claimed that they
those countries claimed that they
those countries claimed that they descended from a common ethnic stock
descended from a common ethnic stock
descended from a common ethnic stock when they were founded and over the last
when they were founded and over the last
when they were founded and over the last decades we’ve had lots of immigration we
decades we’ve had lots of immigration we
decades we’ve had lots of immigration we suicides have become a lot more
suicides have become a lot more
suicides have become a lot more pluralist and immigrants my descendants
pluralist and immigrants my descendants
pluralist and immigrants my descendants are now demanding equality and full
are now demanding equality and full
are now demanding equality and full inclusion and when
inclusion and when
inclusion and when and some people are very happy about
and some people are very happy about
and some people are very happy about that and they welcome that but some
that and they welcome that but some
that and they welcome that but some people are resentful against ed in their
people are resentful against ed in their
people are resentful against ed in their push against it and that’s one of the
push against it and that’s one of the
push against it and that’s one of the drivers of this populist anger the
drivers of this populist anger the
drivers of this populist anger the United States has always been
United States has always been
United States has always been multi-ethnic they’ve never been
multi-ethnic they’ve never been
multi-ethnic they’ve never been mono-ethnic and the way that European
mono-ethnic and the way that European
mono-ethnic and the way that European nations have claimed to be but they are
nations have claimed to be but they are
nations have claimed to be but they are – there used to be a strict racial
– there used to be a strict racial
– there used to be a strict racial hierarchy and that is also slowly being
hierarchy and that is also slowly being
hierarchy and that is also slowly being overcome as more racial equality again
overcome as more racial equality again
overcome as more racial equality again there’s lots of Americans who embrace
there’s lots of Americans who embrace
there’s lots of Americans who embrace that who welcomed that we celebrate that
that who welcomed that we celebrate that
that who welcomed that we celebrate that but there are some who push against that
but there are some who push against that
but there are some who push against that who were worried about that as we’ve
who were worried about that as we’ve
who were worried about that as we’ve seen tragically in places like
seen tragically in places like
seen tragically in places like Charlottesville’s last weeks and months
Charlottesville’s last weeks and months
Charlottesville’s last weeks and months and a third big transformation of course
and a third big transformation of course
and a third big transformation of course is social media now five years ago
is social media now five years ago
is social media now five years ago everybody Ford about Twitter and
everybody Ford about Twitter and
everybody Ford about Twitter and Facebook was wonderful for democracy now
Facebook was wonderful for democracy now
Facebook was wonderful for democracy now everybody thinks that for Facebook and
everybody thinks that for Facebook and
everybody thinks that for Facebook and Twitter a short to destroy democracy I
Twitter a short to destroy democracy I
Twitter a short to destroy democracy I think it’s more complicated than that
think it’s more complicated than that
think it’s more complicated than that what they do is to close the
what they do is to close the
what they do is to close the technological gap between elites and
technological gap between elites and
technological gap between elites and everybody else in some places that’s
everybody else in some places that’s
everybody else in some places that’s great and a dictatorship it gives you
great and a dictatorship it gives you
great and a dictatorship it gives you opposition more tools to challenge
opposition more tools to challenge
opposition more tools to challenge dictatorial rulers but in democracy it
dictatorial rulers but in democracy it
dictatorial rulers but in democracy it also gives hateful extreme xenophobic
also gives hateful extreme xenophobic
also gives hateful extreme xenophobic racist voices much greater ability to
racist voices much greater ability to
racist voices much greater ability to influence for political system so those
influence for political system so those
influence for political system so those are three big causes economic stagnation
are three big causes economic stagnation
are three big causes economic stagnation a challenge to our identity and the rise
a challenge to our identity and the rise
a challenge to our identity and the rise of social media I think a lot more about
of social media I think a lot more about
of social media I think a lot more about that in my book the people versus
that in my book the people versus
that in my book the people versus democracy but what I want to focus on
democracy but what I want to focus on
democracy but what I want to focus on today is what can we do about all of
today is what can we do about all of
today is what can we do about all of this how can we actually save our
this how can we actually save our
this how can we actually save our democracies and the easy answer is to
democracies and the easy answer is to
democracies and the easy answer is to say well I don’t know that we can do
say well I don’t know that we can do
say well I don’t know that we can do very much the fire of it’s raging is so
very much the fire of it’s raging is so
very much the fire of it’s raging is so huge it’s going on in so many different
huge it’s going on in so many different
huge it’s going on in so many different countries its causes are so complicated
countries its causes are so complicated
countries its causes are so complicated in each of us what can we do I was
in each of us what can we do I was
in each of us what can we do I was feeling a little disheartened about our
feeling a little disheartened about our
feeling a little disheartened about our ability to actually affect change a few
ability to actually affect change a few
ability to actually affect change a few weeks ago and I happened to listen to
weeks ago and I happened to listen to
weeks ago and I happened to listen to his great talk by almost always the
his great talk by almost always the
his great talk by almost always the wonderful novelist who is saying there
wonderful novelist who is saying there
wonderful novelist who is saying there is a big fire raging that’s right
is a big fire raging that’s right
is a big fire raging that’s right and each of us only has a little spoon
and each of us only has a little spoon
and each of us only has a little spoon and all we can do is to fill that little
and all we can do is to fill that little
and all we can do is to fill that little spoon with a little bit of water and go
spoon with a little bit of water and go
spoon with a little bit of water and go to the fire and that won’t do very much
to the fire and that won’t do very much
to the fire and that won’t do very much if I go of my spoon to the fire it’s not
if I go of my spoon to the fire it’s not
if I go of my spoon to the fire it’s not going to change anything but if all of
going to change anything but if all of
going to change anything but if all of us do that if a whole mass of us goes
us do that if a whole mass of us goes
us do that if a whole mass of us goes and do that that won’t together we might
and do that that won’t together we might
and do that that won’t together we might actually be able to
actually be able to
actually be able to extinguish the fire so today I want to
extinguish the fire so today I want to
extinguish the fire so today I want to suggest four ways in which you can carry
suggest four ways in which you can carry
suggest four ways in which you can carry that spoon for things so that might mean
that spoon for things so that might mean
that spoon for things so that might mean concretely
concretely
concretely in the context of liberal democracy the
in the context of liberal democracy the
in the context of liberal democracy the first thing to do especially in places
first thing to do especially in places
first thing to do especially in places where populace have already taken over
where populace have already taken over
where populace have already taken over like in Poland or Hungary like in the
like in Poland or Hungary like in the
like in Poland or Hungary like in the United States is to go out and protest
United States is to go out and protest
United States is to go out and protest one of the core claims that the populace
one of the core claims that the populace
one of the core claims that the populace make is that they alone stand for the
make is that they alone stand for the
make is that they alone stand for the people but the real people all support
people but the real people all support
people but the real people all support them of it anybody who disagrees with
them of it anybody who disagrees with
them of it anybody who disagrees with them is a traitor they’re not a real
them is a traitor they’re not a real
them is a traitor they’re not a real American or Paul or Hungarian and so the
American or Paul or Hungarian and so the
American or Paul or Hungarian and so the best way to challenge that is to go out
best way to challenge that is to go out
best way to challenge that is to go out in the streets and show from millions of
in the streets and show from millions of
in the streets and show from millions of people in the public squares that no the
people in the public squares that no the
people in the public squares that no the populace do not get to speak for us and
populace do not get to speak for us and
populace do not get to speak for us and that’s worked historically in South
that’s worked historically in South
that’s worked historically in South Korea last year two million people came
Korea last year two million people came
Korea last year two million people came out to Seoul Plaza to purchase the
out to Seoul Plaza to purchase the
out to Seoul Plaza to purchase the corrupt president she’s now in jail the
corrupt president she’s now in jail the
corrupt president she’s now in jail the second thing we can do is a little less
second thing we can do is a little less
second thing we can do is a little less popular it’s to actually get involved in
popular it’s to actually get involved in
popular it’s to actually get involved in ordinary boring politics and party
ordinary boring politics and party
ordinary boring politics and party politics I know from our research but a
politics I know from our research but a
politics I know from our research but a lot of young people don’t like and don’t
lot of young people don’t like and don’t
lot of young people don’t like and don’t trust traditional politics but in the
trust traditional politics but in the
trust traditional politics but in the end the best way to beat a populist is
end the best way to beat a populist is
end the best way to beat a populist is still to beat them at the polls so go
still to beat them at the polls so go
still to beat them at the polls so go and join a political party go and
and join a political party go and
and join a political party go and campaign for a candidate you like even
campaign for a candidate you like even
campaign for a candidate you like even if you’re not perfect and if you really
if you’re not perfect and if you really
if you’re not perfect and if you really can’t find any candidate you like well
can’t find any candidate you like well
can’t find any candidate you like well go and run for office yourself the third
go and run for office yourself the third
go and run for office yourself the third thing you can do is to change the kind
thing you can do is to change the kind
thing you can do is to change the kind of policies we pursue a lot of
of policies we pursue a lot of
of policies we pursue a lot of politicians want to say there’s so many
politicians want to say there’s so many
politicians want to say there’s so many big forces going on globalization
big forces going on globalization
big forces going on globalization automation there’s not much we can do
automation there’s not much we can do
automation there’s not much we can do but that’s not true we can still design
but that’s not true we can still design
but that’s not true we can still design a set of economic policies that make
a set of economic policies that make
a set of economic policies that make sure but the bulk of economic growth
sure but the bulk of economic growth
sure but the bulk of economic growth actually arrives in the wallets of
actually arrives in the wallets of
actually arrives in the wallets of ordinary people the nation-state can
ordinary people the nation-state can
ordinary people the nation-state can still be open to the world and yet
still be open to the world and yet
still be open to the world and yet ensure that it helps its citizens be in
ensure that it helps its citizens be in
ensure that it helps its citizens be in control of their lives and we can build
control of their lives and we can build
control of their lives and we can build an inclusive patriotism in which we
an inclusive patriotism in which we
an inclusive patriotism in which we emphasize what device
emphasize what device
emphasize what device what unites us across racial and
what unites us across racial and
what unites us across racial and religious lines rather than what divides
religious lines rather than what divides
religious lines rather than what divides us but we have to go and make those
us but we have to go and make those
us but we have to go and make those suggestions do that research and push it
suggestions do that research and push it
suggestions do that research and push it on to political parties that’s hard work
on to political parties that’s hard work
on to political parties that’s hard work we need to do it the fourth thing is in
we need to do it the fourth thing is in
we need to do it the fourth thing is in some ways most important to me look all
some ways most important to me look all
some ways most important to me look all the way through the history of political
the way through the history of political
the way through the history of political thinking from Plato to Aristotle from
thinking from Plato to Aristotle from
thinking from Plato to Aristotle from Machiavelli to Rousseau
Machiavelli to Rousseau
Machiavelli to Rousseau political thinkers were obsessed with
political thinkers were obsessed with
political thinkers were obsessed with the idea of educating citizens of
the idea of educating citizens of
the idea of educating citizens of transmitting political virtue from one
transmitting political virtue from one
transmitting political virtue from one generation to the next of explaining why
generation to the next of explaining why
generation to the next of explaining why we care about certain things to enjoy to
we care about certain things to enjoy to
we care about certain things to enjoy to new generations and this is something
new generations and this is something
new generations and this is something that in democratic societies we pay lip
that in democratic societies we pay lip
that in democratic societies we pay lip service to every now and again but
service to every now and again but
service to every now and again but because we’ve assumed that our
because we’ve assumed that our
because we’ve assumed that our democracies will always be stable they
democracies will always be stable they
democracies will always be stable they were not in danger we haven’t taken it
were not in danger we haven’t taken it
were not in danger we haven’t taken it very seriously of late and that’s
very seriously of late and that’s
very seriously of late and that’s something that all of us can do all of
something that all of us can do all of
something that all of us can do all of us can go and talk to our children to
us can go and talk to our children to
us can go and talk to our children to our nieces and nephews if you don’t have
our nieces and nephews if you don’t have
our nieces and nephews if you don’t have children if you’re a teacher to your
children if you’re a teacher to your
children if you’re a teacher to your students if you’re a writer to your
students if you’re a writer to your
students if you’re a writer to your readers we commit them to our basic
readers we commit them to our basic
readers we commit them to our basic values explain why liberal democracy
values explain why liberal democracy
values explain why liberal democracy where individual rights and the rule of
where individual rights and the rule of
where individual rights and the rule of the people ideals were fighting for
look everybody spoon is different
look everybody spoon is different everybody will want to attack different
everybody will want to attack different
everybody will want to attack different parts of a fire none of us can
parts of a fire none of us can
parts of a fire none of us can accomplish much on our own but if we all
accomplish much on our own but if we all
accomplish much on our own but if we all work together we can actually go a long
work together we can actually go a long
work together we can actually go a long way towards extinguishing that fire now
way towards extinguishing that fire now
way towards extinguishing that fire now this is sort of mayor more or less where
this is sort of mayor more or less where
this is sort of mayor more or less where a normal TED talk would end right I’ve
a normal TED talk would end right I’ve
a normal TED talk would end right I’ve done a little call to action I’ve said
done a little call to action I’ve said
done a little call to action I’ve said something hopefully somewhat inspiring
something hopefully somewhat inspiring
something hopefully somewhat inspiring but I want to be honest I can’t promise
but I want to be honest I can’t promise
but I want to be honest I can’t promise you a happy end I can’t promise you but
you a happy end I can’t promise you but
you a happy end I can’t promise you but everything will turn out to be great it
everything will turn out to be great it
everything will turn out to be great it may be that the rise of populism
may be that the rise of populism
may be that the rise of populism is going to turn from a populist moment
is going to turn from a populist moment
is going to turn from a populist moment to a populist age but we can’t stop and
to a populist age but we can’t stop and
to a populist age but we can’t stop and so I’ve been thinking a lot about a very
so I’ve been thinking a lot about a very
so I’ve been thinking a lot about a very old story
old story
old story back from the Roman Empire and includes
back from the Roman Empire and includes
back from the Roman Empire and includes a senator philosopher and a famous
a senator philosopher and a famous
a senator philosopher and a famous dictator Nero at the heart of his rule
dictator Nero at the heart of his rule
dictator Nero at the heart of his rule Nero
Nero
Nero demanded a famous Roman senator to go
demanded a famous Roman senator to go
demanded a famous Roman senator to go and dance in his games a huge
and dance in his games a huge
and dance in his games a huge humiliation and way of showing fealty
humiliation and way of showing fealty
humiliation and way of showing fealty and the senator didn’t know what to do
and the senator didn’t know what to do
and the senator didn’t know what to do so he went to a philosopher to ask for
so he went to a philosopher to ask for
so he went to a philosopher to ask for advice and he said look if I go and
advice and he said look if I go and
advice and he said look if I go and partake in the game I bring shame upon
partake in the game I bring shame upon
partake in the game I bring shame upon my family and I endorse Nero but if I
my family and I endorse Nero but if I
my family and I endorse Nero but if I don’t he’ll probably have my head cut
don’t he’ll probably have my head cut
don’t he’ll probably have my head cut off what should I do and you know he
off what should I do and you know he
off what should I do and you know he expected with loss of to say well he
expected with loss of to say well he
expected with loss of to say well he should do the right thing he’s a
should do the right thing he’s a
should do the right thing he’s a philosopher right of course you should
philosopher right of course you should
philosopher right of course you should do the right thing stand up for what’s
do the right thing stand up for what’s
do the right thing stand up for what’s right don’t go to the games
right don’t go to the games
right don’t go to the games but if philosopher didn’t say that he
but if philosopher didn’t say that he
but if philosopher didn’t say that he said look the way you asking the
said look the way you asking the
said look the way you asking the question maze will go and take part in
question maze will go and take part in
question maze will go and take part in the games
the games
the games I’m Ascenta was flummoxed he said really
I’m Ascenta was flummoxed he said really
I’m Ascenta was flummoxed he said really so why don’t you go take part in the
so why don’t you go take part in the
so why don’t you go take part in the games what are you talking about and
games what are you talking about and
games what are you talking about and philosophy explain to say look once you
philosophy explain to say look once you
philosophy explain to say look once you start thinking about those kinds of
start thinking about those kinds of
start thinking about those kinds of things once you start doing the sums
things once you start doing the sums
things once you start doing the sums once you start considering should I go
once you start considering should I go
once you start considering should I go should I not go you’ve already lost your
should I not go you’ve already lost your
should I not go you’ve already lost your character if you ask me is it gonna have
character if you ask me is it gonna have
character if you ask me is it gonna have good consequences if I go should I
good consequences if I go should I
good consequences if I go should I rather live and die of course you should
rather live and die of course you should
rather live and die of course you should rather live and die of course pain is
rather live and die of course pain is
rather live and die of course pain is better than pleasure is better than pain
better than pleasure is better than pain
better than pleasure is better than pain so sure though I am not even thinking
so sure though I am not even thinking
so sure though I am not even thinking about it and I found that advice a
about it and I found that advice a
about it and I found that advice a little puzzling but story a little
little puzzling but story a little
little puzzling but story a little puzzling but it speaks to me in a deep
puzzling but it speaks to me in a deep
puzzling but it speaks to me in a deep way because I think it shows that we
way because I think it shows that we
way because I think it shows that we need to commit ourselves now while we’re
need to commit ourselves now while we’re
need to commit ourselves now while we’re not yet in danger while we can still
not yet in danger while we can still
not yet in danger while we can still speak up freely for our rights when to
speak up freely for our rights when to
speak up freely for our rights when to commit ourselves in two ways when you
commit ourselves in two ways when you
commit ourselves in two ways when you commit ourselves to make sure we never
commit ourselves to make sure we never
commit ourselves to make sure we never get into a situation we’re doing the
get into a situation we’re doing the
get into a situation we’re doing the right thing it’s as dangerous as it was
right thing it’s as dangerous as it was
right thing it’s as dangerous as it was for that senator back in Rome and we
for that senator back in Rome and we
for that senator back in Rome and we also need to commit ourselves to the
also need to commit ourselves to the
also need to commit ourselves to the courage and the virtue that it takes an
courage and the virtue that it takes an
courage and the virtue that it takes an extraordinary times to stand up for the
extraordinary times to stand up for the
extraordinary times to stand up for the right thing in the right moment I’m
right thing in the right moment I’m
right thing in the right moment I’m going to think about that now because if
going to think about that now because if
going to think about that now because if we only start thinking about it once we
we only start thinking about it once we
we only start thinking about it once we face real danger it’s likely going to be
face real danger it’s likely going to be
face real danger it’s likely going to be too late with
too late with
too late with to do the sums and we’re going to be
to do the sums and we’re going to be
to do the sums and we’re going to be like that senator who ends up dancing in
like that senator who ends up dancing in
like that senator who ends up dancing in the games so I want each of you to take
the games so I want each of you to take
the games so I want each of you to take a moment if you agree with the
a moment if you agree with the
a moment if you agree with the importance of liberal democracy all the
importance of liberal democracy all the
importance of liberal democracy all the things I’ve been talking about to take a
things I’ve been talking about to take a
things I’ve been talking about to take a pledge not to me not to anybody else to
pledge not to me not to anybody else to
pledge not to me not to anybody else to yourself that you will start carrying
yourself that you will start carrying
yourself that you will start carrying the little spoon to the fire as much as
the little spoon to the fire as much as
the little spoon to the fire as much as you can but even when it starts to feel
you can but even when it starts to feel
you can but even when it starts to feel dangerous to carry the spoon even when
dangerous to carry the spoon even when
dangerous to carry the spoon even when it starts to feel futile you’ll do what
it starts to feel futile you’ll do what
it starts to feel futile you’ll do what you can to defend liberal democracy
you can to defend liberal democracy
you can to defend liberal democracy thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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