Foul-Weather Democracy

Abstract

This article is a translation comprising the last chapter and summary of the book Průvodce po demokracii [A Guide Through Democracy], first published in 1997, in which Erazim Kohák shares the experiences of his life in the US and compares it with challenges faced by the new Central-European democracies. This essay describes three fundamental threats the world faces at the turn of the 21st century: demographic, ecological and moral crises. The author underlines the importance of an open dialogue and voluntary involvement of citizens in shaping the social life in a democratic system.