Democracy has survived more than two millennia of upheaval, reinvention and challenge. An ambitious new BRLSI series of talks brings leading thinkers, politicians and commentators together to explore how democratic ideas have evolved, why they matter today, and what their future might look like in an increasingly uncertain world. Image above courtesy of the Wellcome Collection
More than 2,400 years ago, the Greek historian Herodotus recorded the first known use of the word demokratia. Since then, democracy has survived empires, revolutions, world wars, industrialisation and the digital age, continually reshaping itself in response to changing societies. From the Magna Carta to modern voting reforms, the democratic story has never been fixed; it has been a constant process of adaptation. Yet as political polarisation deepens, technology accelerates change and public trust in institutions is tested, many are asking whether democracy is entering another period of transformation – or facing one of its greatest challenges yet.
It is against this backdrop that Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) launches Democracy Under Threat, a major new programme of talks and debates running until December 2026.
As many of us immerse ourselves in daily conversations with friends and colleagues about the best way forward for the country, it is worth remembering that these questions are far from new. Are democratic systems genuinely under threat, or are they simply being forced to evolve in response to unprecedented pressures? Digitisation, artificial intelligence, the breakdown of old geopolitical certainties, culture wars, globalisation and growing political fragmentation have all fuelled anxieties about the future. Yet could some of the answers already be found in the long history of democratic thought?
BRLSI’s Democracy Under Threat series invites audiences to step back from the daily headlines and take a longer view. Drawing on centuries of political philosophy and historical experience, the programme explores the foundations of democratic life from Ancient Athens to the present day, while examining the challenges facing modern societies both in Britain and across the world.
The series seeks to get to the very roots of the principles and practices that have shaped democracies over time, asking questions that feel increasingly urgent today. What does genuine democracy actually look like? If voters are becoming disengaged, are there meaningful alternatives? Is free speech non-negotiable?
Should voting rights be extended? And what works best – direct democracy or representative democracy?
Democracy has survived empires, revolutions, world wars, industrialisation and the digital age – continually reshaping itself in response to
changing societies.”
The programme opens with renowned pollster and political scientist Sir John Curtice, whose analysis of British public opinion has made him one of the country’s most respected political commentators.
A major highlight follows on 4 July when BRLSI hosts an all-day Democracy Under Threat Conference. Bringing together leading academics, commentators and policymakers, the event offers attendees the opportunity not only to hear from expert speakers but also to exchange ideas and debate key issues throughout the day. The conference concludes with a panel discussion featuring Wera Hobhouse MP alongside other contributors, reflecting on the themes and questions raised during the event.
The programme continues throughout the year with an impressive roster of speakers. Philosopher A.C.
Grayling will address the rise of authoritarianism and the pressures facing democratic institutions, while US-based political scientists Paul D’Anieri and Rajan Menon will offer perspectives on international politics and global instability. Sir Stewart Eldon, the UK’s former Permanent Representative to NATO, will provide insight into democracy and international security, and former BBC journalist turned psychoanalyst Daniel Jeffreys – who has interviewed Donald Trump on two occasions – will explore the psychological dimensions of the MAGA movement and contemporary political identity.
Alongside the talks themselves, the series aims to encourage active public participation. Every event can be attended either in person at BRLSI’s Queen Square headquarters or streamed live online, with audiences invited to take part in live Q&A sessions. Throughout the programme, BRLSI will also run a series of audience polls linked to the themes under discussion, creating an ongoing conversation about the future of democracy.
Adding another dimension to the project are two specially created online timelines, researched and written by a team of BRLSI volunteers aged under 25. One traces the evolution of political philosophy, from Herodotus’ early reflections on popular rule through to contemporary thinkers examining the impact of globalisation. The other charts key moments in British democratic history, from Magna Carta in 1215 to recent electoral reforms, illustrating how democracy has continually evolved rather than remaining a finished project.
Whether viewed as a warning, a reassessment or an opportunity for renewal, Democracy Under Threat promises to be one of BRLSI’s most ambitious and timely programmes to date – an invitation to explore how democratic ideas have endured for more than two millennia, and how they might continue to evolve in the years ahead.
Democracy Under Threat series of talks will run until December 2026 at BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath as well as online.
Tickets cost £4–10, with discounts available for multiple bookings. For tickets and the full programme visit: brlsi.org/democracyunderthreat