dr Zlatko Lagumdžija at the Conference International Day of Democracy: Democracy Today and Tomorrow in European Parliament

  • Post category:English / News

28 September 2016, Brussels, European Parliament

Zlatko Lagumdžija, Club de Madrid Member, Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000-2002)

“Democracy Tomorrow

Why?

Why we have to go for Next Generation of Democracy?

Allow me to start with personal story.

20 years ago I tried to be part of changes that my country desperately needed. After over three years long war  ended with international peace deal, over 100.000 killed people and half  of population being refugees or displaced persons, worst crimes being committed including crime of Genocide, and country being massively destroyed without proper institutions being in placed.

List of problems for ordinary citizens as well as for country as a whole was practically endless. International community walked in to the picture with best intensions,  good political will, necessary resources , skilled people, state of the art knowledge and needed technology, to help us in nation building.

After a while I found out that out all questions that we were faced with, almost every answer, given by international experts and practitioners,  partly or completely, was the same : democracy.

When you said that you would like to have more precise and practical answer, then you got it : elections.

When we master democracy (read: elections), then the jobs, justice, social issues and institutions will simply build up on that fundament.

In last 20 years we had elections 13 times, either local or general elections, for two or four years mandate.

On the end of the day we came to the conclusion the hardest way, by our own experience – getting out of the war and one party system, getting  freedom of speech and free market undoubtly  is a way forward. But democracy is  not just another word for elections ( of course free and fair). It is either  not being comprehensive solution for prosperous future  even if it is complemented only  with jobs and justice.

The world as well a Europe in its own way, is at a critical point. It faces deep social, economic, political and ecological challenges. If not being addressed properly and urgently they could escalate quickly out of control.

We are witnessing  a „new Global paradox“.  Since Berlin wall felled down the number of  democratic countries has doubled but at the same time world is „richer“ for about 60 new „walls“ on the borders of almost 40 states. In last quarter of a century  global GDP has grown 4 times, technological progres tripled and amount of knowledge more than doubled in comparison with overall knowledge „produced“ in previous period since stone age. At the same time sectarian, religious and ethnic conflicts are growing while number of refugees is at its heights and being three times larger than population of  6 „waiting EU room“   Western Balkan countries. Exact data on terrorism „death toll“ from London Institute for Economics and Peace are showing scary growth of this evil force of 21st century. „Economic costs“ of terrorism reached the highest annual level which is being higher 61 percent than previous year and ten times then 15 years ago. Direct  global annual „price tag“ on terrorism destruction was as big as annual  GDP of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia together.

Violent extremism is not only generating terrorism, but it is hoping to provoke brutal reaction in order to mobilize new supporters, alienate already marginalized groups and spread around a sense of injustice in the society. The accumulation of anger and rage, generating fear of those who are not like us and now we see the consequences in the form of terrorism and radically motivated violence.

The fall of Berlin wall gave us  a hope for peaceful, more just and united world, but  we are still witnessing more divisions, injustice, overall tensions and conflicts, regardless of technological, economic and social progress. As a result of that new Global paradox , on individual and collective human level, democracy  is somehow „squeezed“ or „trapped“  in between violent extremism and shared society.

Violent extremism starts when shared societies and values stop. And vice versa. When shared societies and values fully start marching to the future, violent extremism is stopping down.

Socially and economically, there has been little progress in the lives of many marginalized and disadvantaged peoples and communities who still face hunger, poverty and lack of dignity. The breakdown of social cohesion leads to alienation, frustration, tension and resort to violence in individual, group and international relations. At the same time, environment, the earth may already have reached a tipping point where some aspects of the degradation of the environment will become irreversible. We are living through the 6th mass extinction with species dying out at one hundred times the normal rate.

New Global Paradox  can be handled efficiently and effectively  by  New Generation of Democracy as a tool for enabling and managing  new Progressive Partnership of People, Planet and Production – 5P.

So in a view of „Greek temple“ 5P model we can visualize a New Generation of Democracy as being fundament consisting of a three building blocks or dimensions : first, values and institutions; second, access and inclusion; third, management and policies.

The  progress can be visualized as roof suited on three  pillars  of sustainability : sustainable  shared society (people and communities), sustainable development (business and economy),  and sustainable environment (resources and ecology). People, Production and Planet.

It is democracy that delivers, dignity in diversity of people. People who live and produce progress on lonely and long lasting planet ready for next generations.

In order to get rid of our fears and reach to our goals we have to change. We have to change  from wrong to right means.

This is about change from exclusive to inclusive society. From inequality to equitability.

This is about change from segregated to shared society. From selfish interests to common values based policies.

This is about change from demagogy and populism to credibility and accountability. From resisting to changing status quo.

This is about change from today’s EU to enlarged and better EU.

It is no more  about right left issue. It is right wrong issue.

This time it is not only to do right things, but smart things to.

Living along  this model of New Generation of Democracy requires enormous amount of political will, resources  and passion.

Special  focus , care  and innovative thinking  is required for two major generators of future change , that can enable or disable  overall „Greek temple“ 5P model : first, information technology and interconnectivity; and, second, education.

But this is a topic for some other time.

For now, just to remind of J.H.Wels:

„Civilization is in constant race in between education and catastrophe“

That is why democracy tomorrow has to be New Generation Democracy.

And finally, if there are still doubts about necessity for New Generation of Democracy, then once more we should ask ourselves a question – why ?

The answer is as simple as possible : because we have no another alternative.

There is no plan B.

We are all and the passengers and the crew on a same , common, journey.

Do it or do not. There is no try.

So, do it.

If not  living our values, then, what?

If we will not go there together, then , how ?

If not now, then, when ?

If not us, then, who?”