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Democracy: Eleven writers and leaders on what it is – and why it matters
This is an exceptional moment for democracy.
In the year of elections, read Margaret Atwood, Mary Beard, Lea Ypi, Elif Shafak and more on what democracy means - and why it matters.
In 2024, nearly half the world will take part in a national election, with billions heading to the polls. It's a thrilling, unprecedented opportunity for change - yet democracy is also under threat.
Women are at the forefront of the fight for democratic rights, as well as being the most vulnerable when those rights disappear. Here, eleven extraordinary women - leaders, philosophers, historians, writers and activists - explore democracy's power to uplift our societies. Between its ancient origins and its modern challenges, they chare a vision for a better future - one we can build together.
In the year of elections, read Margaret Atwood, Mary Beard, Lea Ypi, Elif Shafak and more on what democracy means - and why it matters.
In 2024, nearly half the world will take part in a national election, with billions heading to the polls. It's a thrilling, unprecedented opportunity for change - yet democracy is also under threat.
Women are at the forefront of the fight for democratic rights, as well as being the most vulnerable when those rights disappear. Here, eleven extraordinary women - leaders, philosophers, historians, writers and activists - explore democracy's power to uplift our societies. Between its ancient origins and its modern challenges, they chare a vision for a better future - one we can build together.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
80 people are currently reading
638 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Atwood
442 books89.3k followersMargaret Atwood was born in 1939 in Ottawa and grew up in northern Ontario, Quebec, and Toronto. She received her undergraduate degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto and her master's degree from Radcliffe College.
Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.
Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.
Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.
Throughout her writing career, Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards and honourary degrees. She is the author of more than thirty-five volumes of poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction and is perhaps best known for her novels, which include The Edible Woman (1970), The Handmaid's Tale (1983), The Robber Bride (1994), Alias Grace (1996), and The Blind Assassin, which won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2000. Atwood's dystopic novel, Oryx and Crake, was published in 2003. The Tent (mini-fictions) and Moral Disorder (short stories) both appeared in 2006. Her most recent volume of poetry, The Door, was published in 2007. Her non-fiction book, Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth in the Massey series, appeared in 2008, and her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood, in the autumn of 2009. Ms. Atwood's work has been published in more than forty languages, including Farsi, Japanese, Turkish, Finnish, Korean, Icelandic and Estonian. In 2004 she co-invented the Long Pen TM.
Margaret Atwood currently lives in Toronto with writer Graeme Gibson.
Associations: Margaret Atwood was President of the Writers' Union of Canada from May 1981 to May 1982, and was President of International P.E.N., Canadian Centre (English Speaking) from 1984-1986. She and Graeme Gibson are the Joint Honourary Presidents of the Rare Bird Society within BirdLife International. Ms. Atwood is also a current Vice-President of PEN International.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 29, 2024
3.5 Stars!
It was nice to come across a lot of names I’ve never encountered before. This is interesting in that not only do we get to focus just on female voices, but also to hear from some of the more obscure and lesser heard nations in the political world from Albania, Kosovo, Estonia, Afghanistan and Nigeria as well as the usual Western and Anglophonic nations.
The highlight for me was Mary Beard’s piece of democracy in Athens. She reminds us that even back then how apathy for democracy had to be countered by various incentives to get people involved. You could only vote if you had both an Athenian mother and father. Ultimately the Greeks had a narrowly restrictive idea of citizen rights and democracy.
I certainly didn’t agree with everything in here, some of the romantic lengths used to describe democracy bordered on a fairy tale, but it’s good to get exposed to a broader selection of insights, though it would have been nice to have more opinions which weren’t just from the usual upper middle-class voices which dominate politics, so again the narrative and scope is constrained by a narrow, privileged elite which includes the leaders of nations, this just isn’t a reflection of the reality of the wider world or those who have to live in it.
Yes democracy is important and possibly still the best political system we have so far, but what version of that do we mean?...The myth and idea of democracy like almost anything is very different to how most people actually experience it, and when it becomes so blatantly tainted and twisted by dark money and corruption then it becomes a bit silly and delusional to pretend that it’s what it says it is. The West in particular can be incredibly smug about their idea of democracy, often kidding themselves on about what they think it offers and to who.
But when we hack through the PR spin and other BS what we have in reality, certainly in the Five Eye nations anyway, is a selective, restricted and conditional version of democracy, where transparency is inconsistent, lying is expected and shrugged off and loopholes often undermine what most think democracy is. But as we know even in its supposed original form back in ancient Greece it was the same, with women, slaves and immigrants (collectively making up a majority) all being exempt from the process.
To keep on telling everyone how important their votes are, that they are as valid as anyone’s and they should do their duty and vote can be incredibly ignorant and patronising when we then see how effortlessly, time and time again corporate interests bypass democracy through donations, lobbyists, lawyers and other dark arts to get what they want, often over-riding democracy, then it’s hard to take seriously or maintain any faith in the system that lies by saying all votes are equal and all voices heard.
July 12, 2024
'They say history rhymes, but it is up to us to make sure it does not.'
A non-US-centric collection of pieces by women. Worth reading for anyone who cares about where we are headed.
A non-US-centric collection of pieces by women. Worth reading for anyone who cares about where we are headed.
April 28, 2025
This is a book with small texts from women leaders all over the world in different areas. I enjoyed the read and learned history, concepts and new women to follow.
July 11, 2024
An interested perspective, of the different approaches and perhaps where democracy might be headed. While Canada has a stable democracy, it considers how populist movements like Trump could threaten it, much like how it will ultimately fail in Hong Kong, or how it failed in Afghanistan. I think the message is that democracy isn't infallible, those out there are willing to take advantage of its failure. Remember it is global, and therefore a multifaceted movement.
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March 18, 2025Mixed.
The worst essays (Kaja Kallas, Vjosa Osmani) champion 'democracy' for democracy's sake, without ever really interrogating what the word means. They perceive democracy in simplistic, Cold War propaganda terms, viewing it as an end in itself and synonymous with 'freedom'. Though this is understandable from the then prime minister and current president of Estonia and Kosovo, only independent democracies since, give or take, 1991 and 2008 respectively.
The best essays (Lea Ypi, Erica Benner) largely eschew discussions of democracy itself and instead discuss the real flaws that states that have employed democratic systems for decades, or even centuries, encounter today. A growing lack of faith in voting to deliver change, especially among younger generations. The failure of democracies to address inequality. These could be criticised as the privileged writings of two scholars who currently live in Western Europe, but Ypi grew up in a decidedly undemocratic Albania and her sober verdict that simply transitioning to democracy, or capitalism, does not in itself solve many of a country's issues, starts to hit on the serious problems that exist in democracies.
Otherwise, Mary Beard's discussion of the merits and flaws of Athenian democracy, and slavery, is as interesting as ever, as is Adela Raz on the US' failure to implement democracy in Afghanistan. Elif Shafak makes cogent points about the negative role of the internet, though I would like to read more from her as her chapter runs comparatively short. Yuan Yang on the difference between the UK and China was insightful but also left me wanting more. Unfortunately, Margaret Atwood's chapter feels a little phoned in and Lola Shoneyin and Aditi Mittal's poetic and comedic approaches kept things varied, even if they didn't entirely work for me.
The worst essays (Kaja Kallas, Vjosa Osmani) champion 'democracy' for democracy's sake, without ever really interrogating what the word means. They perceive democracy in simplistic, Cold War propaganda terms, viewing it as an end in itself and synonymous with 'freedom'. Though this is understandable from the then prime minister and current president of Estonia and Kosovo, only independent democracies since, give or take, 1991 and 2008 respectively.
The best essays (Lea Ypi, Erica Benner) largely eschew discussions of democracy itself and instead discuss the real flaws that states that have employed democratic systems for decades, or even centuries, encounter today. A growing lack of faith in voting to deliver change, especially among younger generations. The failure of democracies to address inequality. These could be criticised as the privileged writings of two scholars who currently live in Western Europe, but Ypi grew up in a decidedly undemocratic Albania and her sober verdict that simply transitioning to democracy, or capitalism, does not in itself solve many of a country's issues, starts to hit on the serious problems that exist in democracies.
Otherwise, Mary Beard's discussion of the merits and flaws of Athenian democracy, and slavery, is as interesting as ever, as is Adela Raz on the US' failure to implement democracy in Afghanistan. Elif Shafak makes cogent points about the negative role of the internet, though I would like to read more from her as her chapter runs comparatively short. Yuan Yang on the difference between the UK and China was insightful but also left me wanting more. Unfortunately, Margaret Atwood's chapter feels a little phoned in and Lola Shoneyin and Aditi Mittal's poetic and comedic approaches kept things varied, even if they didn't entirely work for me.
December 5, 2024
Such a good read. 11 prominent people including writers, professors, leaders and their perspectives on where we are going in regards with democracy, what were the founding stones, is the forced western so called liberalism is the only way to be. Love the ones especially by Elif Shafak and Lea Ypi
October 17, 2024
‘democracy’ is a timely book of eleven female writers mini essays on what democracy means to them, means in the current climate and means for women. the writers span from working in politics themselves to typically fiction writers, historians, activists, and journalists.
for a book of only pages, the essays are hard hitting, brutal and sometimes difficult. they are loud and honest. everything i was hoping for when i picked this up in waterstones a couple of months ago. from Margaret Atwood’s warning of ‘sham’ democracy and Elif Shafak’s meditations on nature - the essays are informative as they are informative as they are opinionated. the harsh truths of modern socio-politics wrapped neatly into 135 pages. I really, really enjoyed it. the book brings up themes of change, and opportunity for change, and almost all the writers note on how we can achieve a more fair and uplifting society.
at least two of the writers also bring up ancient democracy (Greece!) and it’s interesting how modern government has both changed and remains unchanged. Kaja Kallas writes a lot about Russia and the influence on Eastern Europe, it’s a passionate essay and it might be my favourite.
for perspective, these writers come from Canada, England, Japan, Estonia, India, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Turkey, Nigeria, China, and Albania. if you want to read something political and social that is also refreshingly non-US-centric, this book is for you.
an important read that I would urge anyone to pick up if you want to understand where we are and where we are headed.
for a book of only pages, the essays are hard hitting, brutal and sometimes difficult. they are loud and honest. everything i was hoping for when i picked this up in waterstones a couple of months ago. from Margaret Atwood’s warning of ‘sham’ democracy and Elif Shafak’s meditations on nature - the essays are informative as they are informative as they are opinionated. the harsh truths of modern socio-politics wrapped neatly into 135 pages. I really, really enjoyed it. the book brings up themes of change, and opportunity for change, and almost all the writers note on how we can achieve a more fair and uplifting society.
at least two of the writers also bring up ancient democracy (Greece!) and it’s interesting how modern government has both changed and remains unchanged. Kaja Kallas writes a lot about Russia and the influence on Eastern Europe, it’s a passionate essay and it might be my favourite.
for perspective, these writers come from Canada, England, Japan, Estonia, India, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Turkey, Nigeria, China, and Albania. if you want to read something political and social that is also refreshingly non-US-centric, this book is for you.
an important read that I would urge anyone to pick up if you want to understand where we are and where we are headed.
September 21, 2025
Hard to rate because some were 5 stars and some were 2 stars. I landed on 3.5 so I’ll round up but anyways here are my favourite bits from it
Our survival depends on our ability to recognise one another as human - Elif Shafak
The vast networks that link trees together remind us that we are all interconnected. Our lives and stories, our joys and sufferings are interlinked - Elif Shafak
We are neither small nor insignificant. But nor are we superior or above. Rather than atomised individuals, separate travellers on selfish journeys, we are part of the larger circle of life. Our voices matter. Stories bring us together. Silences keep us apart - Elif Shafak
If the question of political progress is the question of how to avoid the errors of the past, exclusion cannot be the solution. - Lea Ypi
And a world in which not everyone is free is a world that cannot be truly free for anyone. - Lea Ypi
Today, the threads of democracy are woven with the blood, sweat and tears of the people of Ukraine. - Kaja Kallas
They say history rhymes, but it is up to us to make sure it does not - Kaja Kallas
In recognising and uplifting the role of women, and particularly young women, we acknowledge that our democracies are only as strong as the participation and representation that they foster. - Vjosa Osmani Sadriu
Our survival depends on our ability to recognise one another as human - Elif Shafak
The vast networks that link trees together remind us that we are all interconnected. Our lives and stories, our joys and sufferings are interlinked - Elif Shafak
We are neither small nor insignificant. But nor are we superior or above. Rather than atomised individuals, separate travellers on selfish journeys, we are part of the larger circle of life. Our voices matter. Stories bring us together. Silences keep us apart - Elif Shafak
If the question of political progress is the question of how to avoid the errors of the past, exclusion cannot be the solution. - Lea Ypi
And a world in which not everyone is free is a world that cannot be truly free for anyone. - Lea Ypi
Today, the threads of democracy are woven with the blood, sweat and tears of the people of Ukraine. - Kaja Kallas
They say history rhymes, but it is up to us to make sure it does not - Kaja Kallas
In recognising and uplifting the role of women, and particularly young women, we acknowledge that our democracies are only as strong as the participation and representation that they foster. - Vjosa Osmani Sadriu
July 22, 2024
This slim but thoughtful book features women writers from diverse cultures reflecting on democracy. Among many highlights I enjoyed the always excellent Mary Beard on classical democracy and a punchy piece from Margaret Attwood. Albanian Lea Ypi’s essay on freedom ,progress and Capitalism is superb as are pieces from Estonia, Kosovo, and Nigeria .
December 4, 2025
The quotes sum up what I’ve learned about democracy from this book. Glad to read from the perspective of women.
“Political change originates in consciousness-raising, in identifying shared concerns and common experiences, and culminates with organizing towards a goal.”
“Our democracies are only as strong as the participation and representation that they foster.”
“Political change originates in consciousness-raising, in identifying shared concerns and common experiences, and culminates with organizing towards a goal.”
“Our democracies are only as strong as the participation and representation that they foster.”
November 21, 2024
Read this one a couple times. Well researched and written. Loved the variety of authors and their different ideas of what democracy is.
July 3, 2025
Nice and light despite the heavy subject but it isn't what I expected.
January 15, 2025
An average rating of 3.5 this one is difficult to sum up, so I thought I'd just write one sentence on each section, as some I loved and some not so much. My only overall thoughts are for a collection that was said to highlight women it didn't really go into women. I was also really surprised that at no point throughout this did it touched upon trans rights/LGBTQIA+ rights which was honestly expected.
Introduction 4 A really solid introduction that made me feel really inspired and really excited about what was to come
Terra Incognita 4 so much information and written absolutely beautifully
Us and Them 5 I learnt so much and it left me wanting to learn more and read more from the author, the way in which democracy was split up was something i’d never read before
A Fragile State 5 I loved this, it felt powerful and important and I didn't expect a poem especially a poem that touched me so much to be in this collection.
Freedom, Progress and Capitalism 3 TBH i just really didn't vibe with the writing style of this one so i struggled with it.
On Democracy 2 You could tell this was written by a politician and it was very narrow in scope it was talking about, which could have been fine but it didn't go deep into it either
What the West Forgot about Democracy 3 It wasn't bad, i just didn't get a lot out of it, a lot of the ideas had already been spoken about.
Democracy 3.5 really interesting, but really short, could have really expanded on the ideas it started.
Why Democracy Failed in Afghanistan 4 I thought this was good, it was very much focused on one place but it felt like a character study and went into detail about things that had only been hypothesised in previous entries.
In That Top 2 maybe that's generous, I think it was meant to be funny? It wasn't
Why We Should Join Things 4 I thought this was interesting and it also gave me insights i didn't previously have and further reading i’m interested in.
Notes of a Wartime Child on Democracy 2.5 idk, I learnt something from it but it was very bias and very one sided, but it was also very much written in a way were you could tell she was a politician :(
Introduction 4 A really solid introduction that made me feel really inspired and really excited about what was to come
Terra Incognita 4 so much information and written absolutely beautifully
Us and Them 5 I learnt so much and it left me wanting to learn more and read more from the author, the way in which democracy was split up was something i’d never read before
A Fragile State 5 I loved this, it felt powerful and important and I didn't expect a poem especially a poem that touched me so much to be in this collection.
Freedom, Progress and Capitalism 3 TBH i just really didn't vibe with the writing style of this one so i struggled with it.
On Democracy 2 You could tell this was written by a politician and it was very narrow in scope it was talking about, which could have been fine but it didn't go deep into it either
What the West Forgot about Democracy 3 It wasn't bad, i just didn't get a lot out of it, a lot of the ideas had already been spoken about.
Democracy 3.5 really interesting, but really short, could have really expanded on the ideas it started.
Why Democracy Failed in Afghanistan 4 I thought this was good, it was very much focused on one place but it felt like a character study and went into detail about things that had only been hypothesised in previous entries.
In That Top 2 maybe that's generous, I think it was meant to be funny? It wasn't
Why We Should Join Things 4 I thought this was interesting and it also gave me insights i didn't previously have and further reading i’m interested in.
Notes of a Wartime Child on Democracy 2.5 idk, I learnt something from it but it was very bias and very one sided, but it was also very much written in a way were you could tell she was a politician :(
June 29, 2025
I've just finished reading 'Democracy: Eleven writers and leaders on what it is – and why it matters', a new book with contributions from 11 female writers and political figures. It's a small book with some of the contributions being only a few pages long. This makes it a great book to dip and out of and to read whilst on the bus or having a quick coffee break. I read it as an ebook from the library. Each little chapter gave me so much to think about I want to have a copy for my shelves so I can refer back to it. I first noticed it because some of the contributors are writers I like or political figures I'm interested in. Some have written essays, one a poem and one a skit. The authors hail from a range of countries such as Canada, Kosovo, India, China and Afghanistan. The politicians among them have held a variety of roles including ambassador, MP, President and UN Representative. The writers range from novelists to historians. This is a little book that packs a punch and even if you think you already know what democracy is and understand how it works, this book will give you food for thought.
The writers are Margaret Atwood, Professor Mary Beard, Erica Benner, Kaja Kallas, Aditi Mittal, Vjosa Osmani, Adela Raz, Elif Shafak, Lola Shoneyin, Yuan Yang, Lea Ypi.
The writers are Margaret Atwood, Professor Mary Beard, Erica Benner, Kaja Kallas, Aditi Mittal, Vjosa Osmani, Adela Raz, Elif Shafak, Lola Shoneyin, Yuan Yang, Lea Ypi.
December 8, 2024
"Democracy: Eleven Writers and Leaders on What It Is – and Why It Matters" is a collection of essays that explores the complex nature of democracy, focusing on political participation, challenges, and the role of economic and cultural dimensions. The book emphasizes the importance of active citizen engagement in democratic processes, addressing threats like autocratic regimes, misinformation, and voter apathy. It also explores the intersection of democracy and economic systems, advocating for more inclusive practices. The book also highlights the fragility of democracy, highlighting the need for active participation and accountability. The book also emphasizes the role of women in enhancing democratic discourse and policymaking, highlighting their diverse experiences in addressing gender inequality and representation issues. The book presents a hopeful vision for democracy, discussing potential reforms and innovations to strengthen democratic practices. By blending contemporary insights with historical context, the book encourages active engagement in democratic processes and envisions a more equitable and resilient democratic system.
June 23, 2025
The diversity of authors and approaches is both the strength and main weakness of this book. I feel like at leas some direction should have been stated other than "write something about democracy". This way we get varying quality and topics that are all over the place and it doesn't really work as a book. There are more serious and better curated textbooks at the first year of Political science, so this one getting any kind of reward is very dubious to me.
On the other hand, a few of the chapters were quite enjoyable. Comparing experiences from "young" democracies like Albania, Afghanistan and Estonia is very interesting for someone from the Balkans as we are struggling in a similar way. Also the depth of Lea Ypi's essay was quite refreshing.
On the other hand, a few of the chapters were quite enjoyable. Comparing experiences from "young" democracies like Albania, Afghanistan and Estonia is very interesting for someone from the Balkans as we are struggling in a similar way. Also the depth of Lea Ypi's essay was quite refreshing.
February 27, 2025
The journey of democracy has been tough ; and, it hasn't reached its destination yet. Democracy is still under construction, being demolished and challenged by the autocratic and totalitarian forces time and again but the very people : who are the architects of democracy still stand in the face of chaos and destruction, to counter and answer and rebuild what's broken, to build what's not been imagined in some places. Democracy is alive only because the people who believe in it are alive.
September 3, 2025
3.5 stars if that were possible!!
I thought it would be perfect to have a books with essays by Elif Shifak AND Margaret Atwood. It’s like two worlds colliding.
However, although I understand the urge to plea for democracy, it seems one-sided to only praise it. The book would be more comprehensive if there’d been an essay about the flaws of democracy and how we might overcome them.
I thought it would be perfect to have a books with essays by Elif Shifak AND Margaret Atwood. It’s like two worlds colliding.
However, although I understand the urge to plea for democracy, it seems one-sided to only praise it. The book would be more comprehensive if there’d been an essay about the flaws of democracy and how we might overcome them.
August 8, 2024
Not all the essays in this collection are five star but in aggregate they are a timely reminder of the importance of functioning democracy and the importance of equality of opportunity and inclusivity.
August 19, 2025
A collection of short essays on the importance of democracy. Mostly written by people from small or third world countries such as Afghanistan or Kosovo. Good to get perspectives from people other than the usual Westerners.
October 9, 2025
A book about "democracy" not democracy.
Most chapters are written by right-wingers who think democracy means capitalism, so... yeah, not a good book on real democracy, except for one or two chapters.
Most chapters are written by right-wingers who think democracy means capitalism, so... yeah, not a good book on real democracy, except for one or two chapters.
August 27, 2024
11 women, of various international backgrounds, write about their experiences of having, losing and regaining democracy. It's an important book for the future of the US.
November 25, 2024
Good glimpse into democracy but I feel like it was lacking meat. Nothing in it was too profound, and I was expecting it to have more nuggets of complexity for me to chew on.
December 30, 2024
Essential reading in today’s world.
January 6, 2025
An interesting collection of essays about democracy that certainly deserves a re-read.
February 12, 2025
Very interesting essays on different points of view on democracy, freedom and capitalism
February 15, 2025
A fast and easy to read book that is very relevant.
April 8, 2025
It made my head hurt, it made me laugh, it definitely made me think on the importance of true collectivism that doesn’t exclude and the importance of freedom for all. A great book.
June 7, 2025
Interesting enough. Nothing groundbreaking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews