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Engage citizens. Federate voices. Government as a service.

Both progressives and traditionalists fear the future. This creates a divided reality, an escape from it. On one hand they are those who want to go back to the past and on the other those who see a future dominated by the artificial, in essence a non-human solution.

Even though the world is fragmenting politically and culturally, we are all more interconnected and live in digital networks.

The future can only be built by coming together, as opposed to apart. Even with enemies.

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Deeper citizen engagement is the only alternative to the temptations of authoritarian rule at a time when representative government is in crisis as its legitimacy wanes.

Humanity is experiencing a loss of identity with no time to deal with it leading to reactive politics.

The US is withdrawing. Europe still doesn’t act as one. Asia continues to rise, yet none of its key countries want to nor could lead today. International institutions have been sidelined. A coalition of the willing is necessary - but who? At a minimum the US and China must cooperate on key issues, yet the opposite is happening. A Western coalition (US & Europe) coexisting with China is a wishful dream.

In a world that is having trouble advancing, what about finding a detour to go forward, as opposed to regressing?

Unfortunately, it is during moments of crisis that one appreciates the value of competent and empowered government. Good Governance Matters.

No matter the political system and leadership, culture perseveres and determines outcomes more than any other factor.

To rebuild a shared vision in democracies do we have to endure a period when extremes rule and shock the center?

For democracies to work well balance and separation of powers are needed. For autocracies to succeed they have to be deeply meritocratic. In both cases government has to be depoliticized at the service of society in general and not be an instrument of power. The best examples are Switzerland and Singapore.

With populism on the rise, governments need to return to being people-serving organizations.

Change happens through people, their ideas and their leadership, creating philosophical, religious and political movements

Can the younger generation across the world transcend reactionary and nationalist tendencies ?

In a world were political parties and traditional media have been dis- intermediated (mostly by social media), representative democracy is fundamentally challenged. Could citizens assemblies and deliberative pools will become the new intermediaries between citizens and governments?

The best political system balances care for the community by individuals with community care for the individual.

Biden, who was expected to be meek, has led an administration showing more strategy and vigor than his predecessors. At once addressing the pandemic, infrastructure and investments, international + domestic taxes, social issues and geopolitics.

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Outside influence in the Middle East over decades has not brought peace nor prosperity. The impetus to control and convert cultures has been rejected like a body which refuses a foreign agent. Freedom from interference may lead to a more genuine and healthier development.

To address voter participation, make it mandatory. It builds civic culture, engaging everybody - like in Australia.

Where do our democracies necessitate new talent? Beyond the obvious tech companies, it is in government - that’s where the biggest impact is possible and needed.

Our democracies need to make it attractive for the best minds to serve in government.

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Are democratic values being delivered to our societies, or do we need new paradigms and inspiration for their realization?

Democracy has made it harder to resolve social struggles and make reforms, compared to benevolent, semi-authoritarian governments that act as service organizations, like Singapore.

Democracy is successful as long as it allows constructive debate, which creates flexibility and adaptability.

The challenge for democracies: How to give citizens a voice, but not the only voice?

Political solutions must touch and engage people locally.

Engaging citizens in deliberative groups on issues and laws will make them not only more connected to the political process, but will legitimize institutions and rules on which they are consulted.

The West and, ultimately, the world need to develop a common and positive vision of the future.

In our modern democracies everything has become political, as opposed to practical or in service to community.

New ideas for governance and economic management may come equally from the east as from the west - beyond Europe, from the likes of Singapore or Taiwan.

Governance matters in whether a society goes forward or backward.

The 1960s and ‘70s liberation movement so challenged authority and institutions that it resulted in weakening western governments to the point of not being able to serve those very activists — individual power instead of communities. 

Anticolonial revisionism and social justice, however justified, may indirectly reinforce conservative traditions and accelerate the relative western decline.

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Traditional political parties in the West are outdated as both left and right now lack an inspiring comprehensive and contemporary narrative.

The 1960s and 70s liberation movement so challenged authority and institutions that it resulted in weakening western governments to the point of not being able to serve those very activists. Individuals became empowered at the expense of communities - freeing yet fraying them. 

Today anti-colonial revisionism and social justice, however justified, may indirectly reinforce conservative traditions, and might accelerate the relative western decline. 

Revolutions always answer a need. Change and renewal are unleashed yet, at times empowering towards new and greater horizons, or reactionary and weakening. Doors and arteries opening or closing?

The challenge is allowing change in a positive way, without too much destruction and retrenchment. All actions will elicit a reaction.

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Today's elections battles are between opposing values and world views more than differences in policies.

As much as democracies are about debate, collective decisions, and empowering individuals, meta-principles are needed for a healthy society. They may come in the form of a common narrative, a benevolent sovereign, a series of commandments, or moral standards.

Up until the turn of the millennium, there was one model: America. Western style democracy and capitalism had conquered the globe, ushering in an open era of boundless optimism. Today, however, globalization, multiculturalism, and the liberal values we deemed universal, including sharing of technologies and resources, are being challenged. Far from expanding, the world is contracting. From unifying to fragmentation. Walls came down, then new barriers rose to take their place. It is almost as if we had reached the limits of the possible, be it freedom or consumption. As rapid technological advancements leave many lost, there’s a growing desire to return to the familiar. To our roots. A conservative reaction. Life is again becoming a personal and communal journey rather than a global one.

The American cultural war is over, for now - one side won. It is like other powerful reactionary movements which happened in the last 10-15 years, first in Turkey, then China and Russia, followed by India, and now the US.