Im Dialog mit Menschen in Führungsverantwortung

Schwerpunktthema Demokratie und gutes Entscheiden

In der 12. Ausgabe der invitations beleuchten wir den Zusammenhang von Demokratie und gutem Entscheiden. Dazu haben wir Schweizer Stimmen und internationale Perspektiven zusammengetragen, inwiefern diese Themen miteinander verbunden sind. Die Beiträge sind, bis auf den Beitrag von Matthias Michel, in Englisch verfasst.

Democracy and Good Decision-making  

The ongoing tensions in the United States, the early snap elections in the Federal Republic of Germany, and the latest developments in the war in Ukraine have led us at the Lassalle-Institute to ask: How do good decisions and liberal democracy influence each other? Therefore, we have asked members of our community and the international Biennial Conference on Environmental Justice to help us analyze the current events through the lens of democratic theory. This community-based inquiry with national and international experts on democracy provides valuable insights to reflect on the foundations of good democratic decision-making and better understand the necessary conditions for it. 

The collected insights in this special issue build on Issue 12 of invitations, which already addressed the topic of democracy. The global upheavals have prompted us to take a global perspective on the state of democracy to better understand today’s challenges. The interviewed experts ask to what extent democratic decisions are also good decisions and what prerequisites must be in place for good democratic decision-making. We wondered which additional global perspectives apart from a Swiss or European point of view would be useful for understanding the current events in world politics to gain a deeper insight. Through the international partnerships of the Lassalle-Institute and the "Environmental Justice" conference, we were able to draw on an already established network of international experts. These, in turn, can help the Lassalle-community gain expanded knowledge and new perspectives on the events. 

From a Swiss perspective, Zug’s Council of States member Matthias Michel and Professor Peter Stücheli-Herlach, professor at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, share their insights. From a global perspective, Professor Amar KJR Nayak, professor at the XIM University in Bhubaneshwar, analyzes the democratic challenges of the Indian subcontinent, while Professor Iris Stewart-Frey, professor at Santa Clara University, discusses developments in the United States since the re-election of President Donald Trump. A third international perspective for the Latin American context is provided by Dolores González Saravia and Dr. Alberto Irezabal Vilaclara, researchers at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. 

These diverse contexts illustrate how democratic decisions are embedded in their respective environments, leading to different effects on populations and their democratically elected representatives. However, a common core of good democratic decision-making can also be identified on a global scale: reliable information and free exchange of opinions are integral components in ensuring that democratic decisions are also good decisions. On the other hand, the Lassalle-Institute promotes democratic values like justice, equality, and transparency to guide people in leadership positions in making ethical decisions that benefit both their organizations and society. Rooted in Jesuit spirituality, these principles emphasize integrity, responsibility, and the common good, fostering leadership that respects human dignity and promotes solidarity. 

- Theo Haas