How to Talk About Democracy So People Actually Hear You

I recently told my wife (an attorney) that "rule of law" is not a compelling argument for people when discussing threats to democracy—because they don't know what it means. In fact, new research by the FrameWorks Institute shows that people don't even understand how the concept of democracy applies to their daily lives.

To help people understand warnings about authoritarianism and threats to democracy and the rule of law, FrameWorks found, you have to make those and other abstract ideas feel urgent and personal. A good start is to connect the dots to what many people already feel—powerlessness, uncertainty, and instability. Here's what they heard in focus groups in February:

·      “I don’t know what’s coming down the line.”

·      “They press a button and we can’t go back.”

·      “We’re at the whim of people in power.”

These aren't just emotional reactions. They're real-life consequences of the erosion of the rule of law:

·      Agency cuts → unpredictability in services

·      Executive overreach → life-altering decisions without accountability

·      Authoritarian behavior → fear, instability, and loss of dignity

Once we understand how people feel, we need to help them name it and understand that a functioning democracy is about the rules that apply to everyone—not about who's in charge.

For details about the FrameWorks research and recommendations, see Clara Lindholm’s post, “Communicating About Democracy Under Threat.”

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/american-flag-on-pole-under-blue-sky-during-daytime-54456/