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cover of episode Power to the people

Power to the people

2025/1/27
logo of podcast LSE: Public lectures and events

LSE: Public lectures and events

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
D
Danny Sriskandarajah
J
Jo Swinson
L
Lisa John
Topics
Danny Sriskandarajah: 我认为我们正处于人类历史的关键时刻,现有的政治和经济体系存在巨大的风险。为了解决我们面临的不公正现象,唯一可持续的途径是将权力交还给人民。当前的政治制度(代议制民主)和经济体系(资本主义)被认为是人类组织政治和经济生活的最佳方式,但事实并非如此。我们需要重新构想新的政治和经济体系,使其更可持续、更公平、更公正。我将通过两个例子来说明这一点:一是南非的宪法山,它象征着人民的力量能够改变政治制度,推翻不公正,创造鼓舞人心的民主故事;二是英国伦敦的黄金狮茶馆,它展示了经济体系的创造力,但也揭示了其不可持续性和不平等性。这两个例子共同说明了当前的政治和经济体系是不可持续的。我们需要将权力交还给人民,才能解决这些体系中的不公正和不平等问题,并创造更可持续的制度。为此,我们需要重新构想代议制民主,引入更具参与性和协商性的决策机制,例如公民大会和人民议院。同时,我们需要重新构想经济制度,使其更具合作性和互助性,例如推广合作社和员工所有制企业。此外,我们还需要关注极端财富问题,设定极端财富线,限制财富积累,以促进更公平的社会。 Jo Swinson: 我认为人们对现有的政治和经济体系感到非常不满,这种不满情绪正在被右翼民粹主义者利用。人们对政治家缺乏信任,对政治制度感到失望,这导致了高水平的选民冷漠和对非民主替代方案的兴趣增加。我们的经济体系也不再为我们服务,它导致了生活成本危机,加剧了不平等,并导致了环境破坏。我们需要重新构想我们的民主和经济体系,使其能够满足人民的需求,并在地球的承载能力范围内运作。我们需要想象一个更好的未来,并共同努力来实现它。我们需要集体行动来对抗强大的企业和政治权力,因为这是恢复权力于民的唯一途径。 Lisa John: 我认为,即使在充满挑战的环境中,我们仍然有理由保持希望,并积极行动以推动改变。丹尼的书不仅仅是一个理论框架,它还根植于我们对变革的信念和行动。我们需要找到新的方式进行交流、互动,摆脱两极分化,在各个层面推动更具参与性的决策。我们需要认识到,变革的轨迹是漫长的,我们需要有耐心,不断学习和迭代。公民社会在应对挑战方面发挥着关键作用,我们应该庆祝我们的成功,并继续努力。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the current state of global democracy and economics, highlighting alarming trends such as voter apathy, declining trust in institutions, and rising support for non-democratic alternatives. It uses examples from South Africa and the UK to illustrate these issues.
  • Declining civic freedoms worldwide, with only 3% of the global population living in countries considered "open."
  • High voter apathy and distrust in elected officials across various nations.
  • Growing support among young people for non-democratic forms of government.

Shownotes Transcript

Contributor(s): Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Lysa John, Jo Swinson | In 2024, two billion people headed to the polls in some 50 countries around the world. But the drama of these elections risks obscuring just how fragile the foundations of democracy have become. A political system that is geared towards short-term wins, run by politicians that few of us trust, is failing to address complex global problems. Many of us feel disempowered, disillusioned and distrustful. Hear Danny Sriskandarajah discuss his new book Power to the People. Drawing on his extensive experience in leading civil society organisations around the globe, he sets out his radical blueprint for change. From giving democracy a participatory makeover to public ownership of social media spaces, and from re-energising co-operatives to creating a people’s chamber at the United Nations, he presents a range of inspiring ideas for how we can reclaim our power and change the world.