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For The People: Fighting Authoritarianism, Saving Democracy
Around the world the foundations of democracy, freedom, civil liberties are being eroded – what can be done?
Are we living through the end of the democratic moment? While democracy once seemed the bedrock of Western societies, the past few decades have revealed a fragile reality. Once liberal countries are turning to authoritarianism, wealthy individuals and corporations are interfering with elections evermore flagrantly, and faith in democracy has plummeted among every demographic. What happened?
From gerrymandering and partisanship to corporate interference and tainted donations, A. C. Grayling reveals the forces undermining our democratic ideals and offers bold solutions. An urgent wake-up call to the risks this poses to us all, For The People reminds us why democracy remains worth fighting for.
Are we living through the end of the democratic moment? While democracy once seemed the bedrock of Western societies, the past few decades have revealed a fragile reality. Once liberal countries are turning to authoritarianism, wealthy individuals and corporations are interfering with elections evermore flagrantly, and faith in democracy has plummeted among every demographic. What happened?
From gerrymandering and partisanship to corporate interference and tainted donations, A. C. Grayling reveals the forces undermining our democratic ideals and offers bold solutions. An urgent wake-up call to the risks this poses to us all, For The People reminds us why democracy remains worth fighting for.
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
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January 24, 2026
There is much here of interest, but while it rises above Western propaganda, it does not free itself of a Westerncentric viewpoint. I respect his first-hand critiques of countries he has actually lived in that I have not - but does he present a rounded picture? Does he subject his own country to the same level of critique?
And in reducing his analysis of online discourse (“full of lies and lunacy and misinformation”) he risks misrepresenting the world’s wider access to ALL forms of information (true, false, subjective and contested) rather than one single heavily curated narrative (often biased, sometimes censored) available only through corporate owned media or via compromised governance in the public broadcasting space: legacy media that Boomers of Grayling’s generation seem to over-trust such with credibility surplus.
He also cites Russian and Chinese covert propaganda as reason for social unrest in USA and UK. China has not gone to war in my lifetime. UK and USA have been involved in war almost every year of my life. China has raised a record number and percentage of people out of poverty than any other country in history. USA and UK have cost of living crises where the basic social contract with government is breaking down as teachers and nurses queue up at food banks. Grayling risks swallowing billionaire narratives designed to misdirect the educated upper middle classes, who can still afford their energy bills, into believing dissatisfaction is illogical and just a result of Russian / Chinese interference. If we choose to believe that then Britain’s road will not lead to a resolution. British intelligensia should look to home first before blaming foreign states. We chose to go into illegal wars, to back questionable USA interests, driving extreme domestic austerity while we funded them. Yes we enjoy *some* freedoms, but how many have come at the cost of other people’s persecution? People can see war crimes and human rights violations on their phones, and link the dots to Western complicity. Return then to Grayling’s commentary and things start to look all the more anachronistic and incomplete.
I enjoy Grayling’s writing, and get much from him, but I know it’s only one slice of reality, and that he has his blind spots.
[PS Audible wont post this review interestingly - it keeps getting non-approved...]
And in reducing his analysis of online discourse (“full of lies and lunacy and misinformation”) he risks misrepresenting the world’s wider access to ALL forms of information (true, false, subjective and contested) rather than one single heavily curated narrative (often biased, sometimes censored) available only through corporate owned media or via compromised governance in the public broadcasting space: legacy media that Boomers of Grayling’s generation seem to over-trust such with credibility surplus.
He also cites Russian and Chinese covert propaganda as reason for social unrest in USA and UK. China has not gone to war in my lifetime. UK and USA have been involved in war almost every year of my life. China has raised a record number and percentage of people out of poverty than any other country in history. USA and UK have cost of living crises where the basic social contract with government is breaking down as teachers and nurses queue up at food banks. Grayling risks swallowing billionaire narratives designed to misdirect the educated upper middle classes, who can still afford their energy bills, into believing dissatisfaction is illogical and just a result of Russian / Chinese interference. If we choose to believe that then Britain’s road will not lead to a resolution. British intelligensia should look to home first before blaming foreign states. We chose to go into illegal wars, to back questionable USA interests, driving extreme domestic austerity while we funded them. Yes we enjoy *some* freedoms, but how many have come at the cost of other people’s persecution? People can see war crimes and human rights violations on their phones, and link the dots to Western complicity. Return then to Grayling’s commentary and things start to look all the more anachronistic and incomplete.
I enjoy Grayling’s writing, and get much from him, but I know it’s only one slice of reality, and that he has his blind spots.
[PS Audible wont post this review interestingly - it keeps getting non-approved...]
Displaying 1 of 1 review