Civil war Quote by Anne Applebaum
“There's no checklist of how democracies fail because they fail in different ways. Some of them fail because they break up and civil war breaks out... Often they fail because someone is elected to power who doesn't respect the rules of the democracy.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Economist, 2023
Democracies fail in varied ways, often due to internal conflict or leaders who ignore democratic norms.
In simple terms: Democracies collapse through war or undemocratic leaders.
Key Takeaway
Guard democratic institutions.
Themes
democracy
failure
leadership
conflict
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
informative
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy making
- civil society
Key Concepts
rule of law
civil war
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards protect democracy?
- How can citizens hold leaders accountable?
A Different Perspective
Not all failures are predictable; external shocks also matter.
