Why do 'democracies' seem to be breaking down everywhere?

I know many people are fretting about the coming election. I understand as the implications of it going one way or the other are massive. However, I don’t have anything of value to add to the daily deluge of polls and takes. So what I wanted to do is release an audio version of an essay I posted here a few years back entitled, ‘A Run on the Bank of Mass Democracy: modern 'participatory' governance relies on non-participation’. As the episode title indicates, it takes a step back to consider why there seems to be an ever-accelerating fraying, or even breakdown, of democratic governance in the US and elsewhere around the world. To be sure, the essay speaks to matters that will persist and likely continue to accelerate, regardless of who prevails on Tuesday. I know this is a question that has also been explored by many others, sometimes to very illuminating effect. That said, whether you sign on to my arguments or not, I do think it puts forward an angle of approach not commonly found in these discussions. In sum, it is an essay in the truest sense as it takes advantage of the format to explore some tentative, but (I think) defensible, provocative propositions. Thanks as always for listening and supporting the show. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestingtimes.substack.com