What is the Summit for Democracy?

The Ouroboros represents the

cycle of renewal. Science and Democracy

Scientific Education=Science Literacy=Reflective Citizen=Democracy

The Summit for Democracy was/is an international pro-Democracy forum hosted by the U.S. Department of State as an avenue to raise awareness of the risks to democracy itself. You can obtain some additional information on their main page 'The Summit for Democracy'. As a response to seeing democracy backslide around the world, the U.S. put together a summit to discuss and display commitment to democracy from government, civil society, and the private sector leaders. The message resonating is that we have to renew our commitment to certain democratic principles if we expect them to survive.

Authoritarianism mixed with corruption that moves beyond the financial incentives to include circumventing human rights seems to be growing as an international trend (From a sociological perspective one could say there are shifts in the underpinnings of society.). Authoritarianism is antithetical to a free people who decide things collectively by ensuring the natural power and rights of each individual is not supplanted by the selfish needs of the few. Democracy has its roots in the very beginning formation of our civilization (beyond western civilization) and is essential to our success (or failure depending on the ability to make it a relevant philosophy for each generation's problems.).

There are always forces that seek to gain power over others and that often means they would need to undermine our democratic institutions by casting long shadows of doubt through unjustified criticisms. There is always room for legitimate criticism of public institutions and when well thought out are worth their weight in gold. There is a difference between undermining and reflecting for future growth. Our institutions should and can adjust but we as a people must commit to working within those anchor institutions to ensure our way of life persists. Unjust criticism often is amebic by nature and doesn't offer many solutions.  

Nietzsche believed that people always want more power using motive based behaviors throughout their lives in his publication Will to Power. This deep seated urge is precisely the reason why we need strong trusted institutions that act with integrity so as to ensure the power stays in the collective. Corruption, hyper politics, radicalism, elitism, etc... all reduce that trust and in turn breaks the mutually agreed upon bonds of common destiny. (Ok...I know...I'm just being philosophical here.)

The event seems to focus on rebuilding international commitment to democracy. In this case, it looks like the U.S. is trying to lead this conversation (Which isn't a bad strategy or rebuilding our international position.) to attract democratic supportive governments to work toward the bigger picture. Participating organizations/countries can support each other in this process by the free exchange of ideas, peoples, and commerce mixed with thoughtful feedback (so we aren't blinded) in a way that often leads to greater long-term partnerships.

Our problems won't dissipate until there is firm commitment to essential American values and our hierarchy of beliefs puts core essential principles primary in decision making (i.e. Constitution, rule of law, freedom of speech, etc....)  You may want to read 'What is a Backsliding Democracy and Why was the U.S. Added?' to gain an additional perspective on how and why the U.S. was included as a society that became more authoritarian. The good news is we can reverse this trend if we rebuild our centralists, ensure our institutions focus on their missions, remove corruption (of any type) and draw people into a single vision of who we are and where we want to go. 

I could probably go on and on and on about some needed changes such as more focus on balancing the economy with small business (opportunities that create net positives), hiring for skill/ability and not nepotism, universalized justice system, focus on innovation, building a high values adaptable export oriented infrastructure (i.e. ports, Internet, multiple source energy grids, etc....) and attracting HQ and manufacturing to the U.S. Moving beyond hard infrastructure we can turn attention to the importance of arts (poetry, meaningful music, painting, drawing, dance, etc....) to embed our essential beliefs (There is a historical pattern to art I believe with the same symbolic impressions "core truths" that come up in every society and in every generation. Art is about teaching values and beliefs in an entertaining way that breaks through our mental schemas that would have likely missed the message of the authors. See Thousand Years, Red Queen , Vervet Monkeys, Hyperpolitics and Dem/Rep Comp.🤓)