We Do This to Ourselves
How democratic erosion begins—in politics, at work, and in us
Last week I published four short pieces that trace a progression from democratic fundamentals to personal mindsets. I hadn’t intended them as a series. Each essay emerged organically from thinking prompted by the one before it. One piece led to a question that generated the next.
In times of heightened polarization, it's hard to step back and examine the deeper currents shaping our collective life. Those of you who have taken part in my management development programs or strategy sessions may recall formal environmental scan tools like PESTEL. These essays don’t follow that kind of structured approach, but they might serve a similar function: as entry points for reflection in a disorienting landscape.
What emerged, without planning, was a natural progression through connected ideas. The order in which the essays were published mirrors the arc of the thinking, starting with structural foundations and moving toward more personal introspection.
"Democracy’s Forgotten Basics"
This piece starts with what seems obvious yet is often neglected: democracy depends on citizen engagement, real representation, and durable guardrails against human nature. There’s nothing novel here, just essentials that demand ongoing attention.
"The Experiment"
Here, I explore democracy as an ongoing experiment rather than a settled system. Like good science, it depends on curiosity, feedback, and adjustment. When we become more attached to our theories than to outcomes, the spirit of experimentation fades.
"The Slow Unraveling of Democracy"
This essay looks at what happens when both the basics and the experimental mindset are ignored. I point to two threats in particular: those who silence debate with noise and those who silence it with absence. The unraveling isn’t dramatic. It’s gradual, like a thread fraying over time.
"The Totalitarian Self"
Finally, I shift the focus inward. When we treat our perspective as the totality of reality (dismissing others’ perceptions, judgments, and emotions), we enact, in miniature, the very dynamics that erode democracy at scale.
These reflections aren’t meant to offer solutions. They’re meant to create an opportunity for thought. I hope that they prompt us to consider how our habits, individually and collectively, contribute either to democratic strength or fragility.
They are not partisan. They don’t recommend policies or candidates. They raise questions about the mindsets and behaviors that sustain or erode democratic life, regardless of political alignment.
In this way, they might offer a way into conversations that have grown increasingly difficult to begin. By focusing on patterns and assumptions, rather than specific outcomes, they provide conceptual tools for reflection. Whether in boardrooms or town halls, seeing these dynamics more clearly might help us navigate the tensions of our civic life with a bit more clarity and courage.
If they provoke a conversation (or a moment of honest thought) they’ve done what I hoped they would.
Richard
Whenever you’re ready
Here are ways we can work together:
Facilitation — Help your team think and work better together—whether in strategy sessions, planning meetings, or team development. Thoughtful facilitation brings out your collective best thinking.
Leadership Coaching — One-on-one conversations to sharpen your leadership instincts, think strategically about your next steps, and work through challenges with clarity and focus. I’m taking three clients in Q2.
If you’d like to discuss how any of these might fit your current situation, reply to this email. I’m always happy to chat.