America 2.0

Now, we rebuild: Why 'defending democracy' hasn't worked

Defending democracy failed because it also required defending the status quo. Now we are called to create a future worth fighting for.

The United States has persevered through many setbacks — and we'll do it again. (Smithsonian Institution / America 2.0 Illustration)

For the last decade, students of history have been warning about the rise of authoritarianism and autocracy around the world. The theory was that if we could simply inform enough people about the dangers of illiberalism while correcting and countering toxic disinformation, pro-democracy forces would win elections and we could somehow return to 'normalcy.'

But this strategy failed for a variety of reasons. First, defenders of democracy were placed in the unenviable position of also defending the status quo with all its attendant dysfunctions from income inequality to healthcare disparity, and skyrocketing costs for food, energy, and education. Too often, warnings of the dangers of illiberalism were delivered by self-serving beneficiaries of the establishment. Their concerns often were perceived as both unconvincing and self-righteous.

What authoritarian leaders have offered instead is a true choice — dangerous, exciting, unknown, futuristic, and transgressive. The public has dared to prove historians wrong, and bet that this time, it's different — that not only can we follow the dark path without grave moral injury, that it is necessary that we pursue it: for growth, for change, for manifest destiny. Artificial intelligence and space exploration are cast as new frontiers that justify a new direction, distinct from the gray confines of the 20th century. The current wager might be summarized, "maybe the will to power just needed a better tech stack."

Technological and societal changes mean that there is no pathway back to the past now; there is only forward. The question, then, is what sort of future is worth fighting for? Authoritarians and autocrats have made their pitch around efficiency, progress, technology, and a regressive hierarchy.

Advocates for democracy have made no effective counter-offer. It is time for those of us who believe in the promise of democratic values to articulate them in a way that is at least as compelling as the daydreams currently being peddled by autocrats. We must believe this is possible, and indeed it is the only way democracy can prevail.

Articulating a positive forward vision for democracy must begin now, and we must expect that executing that vision will take the rest of our lives. As defense of democracy has failed and we set out on this mission with new clarity, we offer these ideas for centering our efforts.

The time for warning is past

We have warned, warned again, warned in print, warned on television, warned on social media, warned on panels, warned at family gatherings until our warnings have become worn-out and unwelcome. The warnings were justified, prescient, and correct. But they have been wholly ineffective. As politics has become more rooted in social division, reason has become an afterthought. Warnings did not steer people away from the hot stove; indeed, more have become curious to touch it for themselves. It's time to practice radical acceptance and recognize that warnings don't work.

Set goals and work towards them

Ignore provocations and stay focused on your goals. Whether you are an activist organizer or just a citizen in your community, look for ways you can make a difference. Write down your goals and work towards them daily. Prioritize your work each day before diving into the "news," much of which is intended to distract, dismay, and disorient you. Root yourself in your own power and give yourself space to execute on what you think is most important.

Conserve your agency

Today's authoritarians and autocrats maximize their own agency by coupling their unparalleled wealth and power with a total disregard for laws, norms, and precedents. The ersatz-transgressive phrase, "you can just do things," has become a mantra for them and their sycophants. But there's really nothing transgressive about it. We all are empowered to simply do things, and it's ridiculous to even imply otherwise. The only constraints most of us face are existing frames of reference and constant bombardment with "bad news" and worry. Cultivating imagination and executing on it is the most powerful weapon we all possess. Make choices that maximize your agency.

Take time for reflection

Prioritize reflection over reaction. Allow time to process information in your frontal cortex, rather than react immediately from your amygdala. Hot takes are a dime a dozen. While it may feel good to clap back, don't indulge at the expense of other priorities and goals. The way to defeat the autocrats is to build something worthwhile they can't match. You can't build if you're busy responding to their attacks, and immediacy is no substitute for ordered thinking. When someone does something awful, take note of it; it's not necessary to respond, or always be right.

Look to the long term

Our current predicament is societal, technological, and global in scope. We will not fix this in two years or four years, or through political means alone. We must believe we will have elections and that they will matter, but simple prescriptions like "vote blue" are not sufficient. We are being called to design and build an entirely new vision of the future, and we must rise to the challenge. We must think in decades and in centuries, so that the goals we choose are big and compelling enough that they sustain us for generations, while also meeting near-term challenges posed by our changing global climate.

Accentuate humanity and grace

We humans are odd and fragile creatures. As authoritarians seek to dehumanize those who stand in their way, we have the opportunity to do the opposite by doubling down on the humanities. Genuine humor and parody, stories, poetry, literature, art, music, fashion, and film are perhaps the most effective tools we have for bending the course of human events — more powerful even than technology, politics, or money. Afford each other both space and grace — to be wrong, to come around, and to reconsider. Speak little enough that when you do speak, it is noticed.

Build relationships

Build meaningful relationships wherever possible. You might even think of it as cultivating a "strategic social capital reserve" for the future. Some might not like the reference to capital; if so, just call it social ties instead. And this isn't just about just accumulating followers online. Find ways to build real-world trusted relationships in your various communities that can be brought to bear as we build what's next. A better future isn't going to just present itself; it will be borne on the backs of networks of trust. And we must focus on building those networks today. Find your people and nurture those relationships. Break bread, be present, and forge lasting friendships.

There is simply no way to react to every assault being waged now. Triage and action must replace chatter, as the threat no longer belongs to some hypothetical future but is here upon us now. So now, we rebuild. The America 2.0 project is dedicated to building a democratic future that's worth having, and we're thrilled you have joined us on this journey.