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Democracies Quote by Richard A. Clarke

“Democracies don't prepare well for things that have never happened before.” quote by Richard A. Clarke
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“Democracies don't prepare well for things that have never happened before.”

Richard A. Clarke

About This Quote

Source Book: The Fifth Domain, 2019

Democracies struggle to anticipate unprecedented events, leaving them unprepared.

In simple terms: Democracies are often unready for novel crises.

Key Takeaway

Plan for unknown future scenarios.

Themes

preparedness policy uncertainty

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • government planning
  • emergency drills
  • technology adoption
  • public health crises

Key Concepts

risk management strategic foresight

Questions to Reflect On

  • What steps can societies take to improve foresight?
  • How can flexibility be built into policy?
A Different Perspective

Predicting the unknown is inherently difficult.

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