Yes, the presence of these trends in many countries around the world speaks to sources of international/broader fundamental pressures on democracy and stability, perhaps somewhat driven by globalism and the increased inequality and economic/job insecurity that this has led to in many places. I suspect that refugees generated by climate change (increased natural disasters, droughts, agricultural challenges) will exacerbate these trends in the coming decades, putting more pressure on places with resources to see their use and distribution as a zero-sum game to an even greater extent.
In the USA, destruction of labor unions and co-opting of lower and higher educational curricula by those with propagandist goals are places where we need to try to maintain what is still pro-democracy and rebuild what is already undercut. Democratic participation has also been undercut and our indirect elections/electoral college system, gerrymandering, and imbalanced representation across more versus less populated states also undermines democracy and allows a tyranny of the minority.
It's challenging to figure out where one can do good as a civilian layperson, but I'm hoping at least to learn enough related to my own expertise in STEM education, research and advocacy to increase inclusivity and access to those careers and continued progress in those areas.
Yes, the presence of these trends in many countries around the world speaks to sources of international/broader fundamental pressures on democracy and stability, perhaps somewhat driven by globalism and the increased inequality and economic/job insecurity that this has led to in many places. I suspect that refugees generated by climate change (increased natural disasters, droughts, agricultural challenges) will exacerbate these trends in the coming decades, putting more pressure on places with resources to see their use and distribution as a zero-sum game to an even greater extent.
In the USA, destruction of labor unions and co-opting of lower and higher educational curricula by those with propagandist goals are places where we need to try to maintain what is still pro-democracy and rebuild what is already undercut. Democratic participation has also been undercut and our indirect elections/electoral college system, gerrymandering, and imbalanced representation across more versus less populated states also undermines democracy and allows a tyranny of the minority.
It's challenging to figure out where one can do good as a civilian layperson, but I'm hoping at least to learn enough related to my own expertise in STEM education, research and advocacy to increase inclusivity and access to those careers and continued progress in those areas.