Touchstones of Democracy: ‘Answering to Us’
- When
- Thursday, November 12, 12 PM to 1 PM
- Where
- Bond House, Charlottesville
- Price
- Free
In his new book, Answering to Us: Why Democracy Demands Accountability (Princeton University Press), Minh Ly, a political science professor at the University of Vermont, explores how centering the idea of accountability in how one understands the value of democracy provides people with the resources needed to reckon with anti-democratic forces. Authoritarians often claim to be democratic because they hold elections that they say represent the will of the people. But if accountability is central to democracy, then people must be able to hold governments responsible for their actions, not only in elections but also in office. Ly shows that doing so requires freedom of the press, freedom to protest, the rule of law and independent courts, and legislative oversight—all of which elected authoritarians threaten. Answering to Us posits that citizens should be empowered to demand accountability and to exercise the duties of oversight over public officials in solidarity with one another.
Last updated Wednesday at 10:07 AM. Details can change; the venue’s page is the authority.
