From the CEO: Democracy Depends on Courage

Paige Alexander is chief executive officer of The Carter Center.

In my role as CEO of the Carter Center, I am frequently asked about the rise of authoritarianism worldwide and the state of democracy in the United States. In fact, I spoke on those closely related topics in July at the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit center in upstate New York that serves as a hub for dialogue on current events and issues.

In one part of my lecture, I delineated the seven tactics that leaders employ to move toward authoritarianism. That video received hundreds of thousands of views and comments on the institution’s TikTok account, and it’s gratifying to know people are interested in this subject.

It’s important to remember that our nation has been through versions of the current situation before. President Carter was born into a time following World War I, when dissident U.S. citizens were being persecuted for criticizing government policy. That era was ugly, but it didn’t last. Americans also endured threats to freedom of speech and assembly during the Red Scare of the 1950s, but cooler heads and democratic principles eventually prevailed.

I’m not suggesting that believers in democracy should just sit back and wait for events to unfold. On the contrary, the only appropriate response to authoritarianism and democratic backsliding is to peacefully resist through small-d democratic actions. Indeed, in recent decades, we have watched “people power” bring about breathtaking turns from dictatorship to democracy in Chile, the Balkans, South Korea, and elsewhere.

History is replete with stories of brave individuals who have stood against the odds, defied tyranny, and defended the rights of all people.

To President Carter, justice and democracy weren’t just ideals; they were daily acts of courage and faith. He never got lost in despair because his faith in people’s desire for peace and freedom was stronger than his doubts.

That’s a faith we at The Carter Center share. If we are brave, democracy can thrive.