Self-Governing and Thriving Democracies

● This interview explores central concepts from Brigitte Geissel’s 2023 book, The Future of Self-governing, Thriving Democracies. ● The book crafts a bottom-up definition of democracy in which citizens themselves decide how they want to govern their communities, with experts as helpers or guides—potentially moving beyond representation or elections if these structures prove ineffective for the citizens in question. ● The thriving component of this discussion signifies a continuous process of improvement and adaptation. ● Pragmatic implementation challenges are discussed, suggesting a multi-level strategy involving constitutional reform and fostering change at all levels of government. ● The role of democratic theorists is considered crucial as theorists of democracy should more actively engage with people, partner with other disciplines, and strategically influence political actors to encourage change. ● Geissel’s vision of self-governing and thriving democracies is a long-term perspective—one that requires sustained effort and one that faces resistance from both people in power and systems of power.