Adventures in Democracy

by Erica Benner

'Invigorating . . . essential reading for anyone tempted to be complacent about the survival of democracy in the twenty-first century' Catherine FletcherDemocracy is a living, breathing thing and Erica Benner has spent a lifetime thinking about the role ordinary citizens play in keeping it from her childhood in post-war Japan, where democracy was imposed on a defeated country, to working in post-communist Poland, with its sudden gaps of wealth and security. This book draws on her experiences and the deep history of self-ruling peoples – going back to ancient Greece, the French revolution and Renaissance Florence – to rethink some of the toughest questions that we face today.What do democratic ideals of equality mean in a world obsessed with competition, wealth, and greatness? How can we hold the powerful to account? Can we find enough common ground to keep sharing democratic power in the future? Challenging well-worn myths of heroic triumph over tyranny, Benner reveals the inescapable vulnerabilities of people power, inviting us to consider why democracy is worth fighting for and the role each of us must play.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History

210 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2024

Reviews

[Dangerfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this book after reading newspaper reviews praising it. I had hoped it would address the issues which are challenging about Britain’s democracy. It did but only partially as I shall explain.
It is really an academic treatise on the history, philosophy and politics of Athens. As such, it takes some concentrated reading to find the relevant examination of current democracies - not quite a needle in a haystack but much is found only by searching through what the writer may regard as relevant but I found to be academic padding.
There are two significant missing topics: the effects of demonstrations and electoral significance.
With regard to demonstrations in a democracy, one only has to remember that almost 2 million people marched against the Labour Government’s involvement in the US war on Iraq. It had no effect even though it was shown that Parliament was lied to.
I write this shortly after an election has been announced. The voting system of first past the post means that the electorate has only the choice between a far-right party or a centre-right party. This system of elections means that any voter wishing to vote for anything not on the right is denied a voice. I found Erica Benner’s failure to address this kind of issue disappointing. Couple this with the failure to address the defeat of popular anti-government demonstrations, and the academic Athenian padding explains why I have given it only 3 stars.

[Remco · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very readable and very topical in 2025. It does a good job in putting a more nuanced perspective on democracies. It also offers some ways to measure a democracy on how 'good' or 'bad' it is.

Throughout the book the author regularly sprinkles in references ancient Greek thinkers and playwrights. It helps to understand that some of the problems that we see in today's democracies are not actually new, but have been issues as long as democracies have existed. But it does presuppose a certain level of familiarity with ancient Greek persons, plays or mythology which I did not always feel contributed well to my understanding.

I also thought the book could have been a bit better structured with a better build up of the arguments and more accessible pointers of what the main arguments for each chapter were. I did not always find that clear.

[Joe Tristram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This often felt like a Socratic dialogue. Benner's style is to pose questions and then offer answers. I found it thought provoking and often a bit confusing. I think this is to do with how Benner writes her sentences, not just that the ideas are too difficult! At all points, as she mixes her own experiences of living in many places round the world, and asking really good questions wherever she has been, she reverts to what Plato and Machiavelli wrote on rule and democracy.
Actually I think this is a brilliant book that might have benefitted from a little more editing to make the points clearer.

[Răzvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Democrații în care #LecturaConectează „Adventures in Democracy - The Turbulent World of People Power” de Erica Benner
„Idealurile moderne ale democrației prețuiesc egalitatea și cer respect egal pentru fiecare cetățean”. p.IX Erica Benner, „Adventures in Democracy - The Turbulent World of People Power”, Penguin Books, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvR0Y...
Ce se întâmplă când visul democratic devine ring de box pentru interese și ideologii? Erica Benner îți răspunde cu „Adventures in Democracy – The Turbulent World of People Power”. Este o carte care te duce în agora antică, traversează revoluții, rețele sociale și proteste cu meme. Ajunge până în bucătăria democrației 2.0. Dinamică, curioasă, uneori ironică, autoarea cotrobăie dincolo de aparența lozincilor. Unde se ascund voci ignorate, elite frustrate și răsturnări de situație. De ce unele idealuri devin arme, cine pierde când poporul câștigă. Și ce rol joacă emoțiile în „dezbateri sănătoase”? Ai aici povești reale, personaje decisive, lecții de la votanți, influenceri, filosofi și... chiar de la clasici. Ești gata să redefinești ideea de „putere a oamenilor”?
„Tucidide ne spune că lumea începe să folosească justiția într-un sens părtinitor și egoist, drept orice îmi folosește mie și cauzei mele ca să câștig” p.185 Erica Benner, „Adventures in Democracy - The Turbulent World of People Power”, Penguin Books, 2025
Producător Alexandra Iordache

[Eveline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theory of politics, history, philosophy is mixed with memories of living in Hungary, Japan. Poland, England and United States.
Engaging, practical conversations and ideas of different people across time (from ancient Athens to 2024) are shared.

Tgd book describes what aspects of democracy makes it a good system to share power and live in peace and dignity and it also describes the pitfalls and what to look out for, when power balances start shifting. The elites are being questioned, slavery and colonialism.

When we talk with others about democracy, it's interesting to know what the other thinks of power and freedom: how those two should be protected and divided across the people.

[Andrew Higham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not usually read books like this so there may be an element of political philosophy 101 that I missed. But I found the author's focus on the people rather than the elite empowering and so optimistic. I have not felt optimistic about politics for a long time.

[Sarah left GR]

Added after reading this review: https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

[Carriin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7

A great introduction to how democracy started, why it's still a favoured political system today and why a lot of countries follow this system.

[William Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insights!

[Henry McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindness and Respect

If that is what we are to our fellow beings then democracy will prevail. Really thought provoking read about democracy and the dangers of assuming that all democracies are good and equal. We have a lot to learn from Ancient Greek wisdom.