Democracy beyond bread

The article discusses the current justification for democracy, which is its ability to provide economic prosperity, likened to 'bread' in the context of 'panem et circenses.' It highlights that while democracies tend to grow economically, the gap in growth rates between democracies and authoritarian regimes has been narrowing since the 2000s. The author argues that democracies should not solely rely on economic performance for legitimacy, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement, ethics, and moral responsibility among citizens. Drawing on Aristotle's views, the piece stresses that a healthy democracy requires active participation and institutions that ensure freedom and equality for all citizens.