The Threat To Democracy In The 21st Century

The current political climate is showing a politicalequipment, staff or sponsorship, it needs to be
will that is struggling to effectively come to termssure that there is an acceptable level of return on
with global warming, let alone deal with it. Whilst athat investment, whatever that might be. That is
serious threat of this nature is a first forthe nature of business and we should have no
civilisation, politicians struggle with it because it canproblem with that discipline.
directly conflict with the agendas of those whoHowever the actual democratic process seems to
helped them into power - and it is those samebe under increasing threat from the powerful
agenda's which seem to be contributing to globalinfluences the corporate sector can now wield,
warming in the first place.further exacerbated by the acceleration of the
The finance required to fund an election attemptdoctrines of Capitalism across the globe.
in the 21st century is now of a size that can onlyThe challenge lies in the shift in people power that
be raised in the corporate sector. (It also raisesthis process seems to be implementing. We now
the issue of whether these financial implicationshave a reduction in voters at the ballot boxes
inhibit the true application of the democraticbecause of apathy we are told, but a greater
process for anyone seeking office, because ofassertion of control over the corporate sector
onerous financial considerations.)through consumerism.
As far as the leadership of any political party isCompanies react to the will of there customers
concerned, raising financial support produces theand this in turn causes movement by political
problem of divided loyalties between sponsors andreaction to meet corporate need. Somehow the
electors. A solution seems to have been found incorporate sector has managed to inject itself
the introduction of the "Party Line", whichbetween the politician and the voter, enabling it to
effectively fudges the issues of local democracyincreasingly introduce corporate values and the
by confining activity to the Party Agenda.dictates of profit into our everyday life.
Political parties can demonstrate control over theirWhilst consumerism operates in a similar fashion
members through adherence to the Party Line.to democracy, our ability to influence and change
This in turn provides corporate sponsors with thecould become restricted to our needs as
confidence to invest and support an organisationconsumers, rather than our needs as members of
that can manage its direction and any changes tosociety. This new democracy is unhealthy
that direction. In so doing it can deliver on policiesbecause of the serious imbalance it creates within
which are capable of supporting corporate viewssociety, at a time when we need to be able to
and desires.function as flexibly as possible in coming to terms
For business to invest in anything, be it newand dealing with climate change.