It is a temptation to oversell democracy as a necessary source of social stability, economic equity, and personal emancipation. Democracy, in truth, is not instrumental to any outcome good or bad. It is a way simply to engage most people and thus confer legitimacy. One can only hope the public prefers light over the dark. A Princeton political scientist of unusual insight, Jan Werner-Muller wrote recently, “Democracy is not just instrumentally valuable — if that were the case, we might give it up for systems that deliver more. It is valuable.” https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/opinion/biden-democracy-summit.html
Democracy can provide in the words of Adam Przeworski, “a regime in which incumbents lose elections and leave office if they do.” https://as.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu-as/faculty/documents/sisson.pdf That simple rule has taken centuries to evolve into a near-universal belief in even autocratic states The legitimacy of campaigns and elections are constantly at risk from threats ranging from ballot box stuffing to race-based gerrymandering. Throw in nationalism and populism on top of old-style “money and muscle” and it is clear democracy remains ever at risk.
So, yes, Democracy Day is necessary. It serves to restore the promise of digital communications as a freer and less expensive media rather than a means of surveillance repression. The day can generate stronger light and fiercer heat on the malignancy of corruption — the evil in the absence of good. Civil society has a key role in measuring and advancing fundamental rights. So too does political competition, the fear of losing, keep leaders and the elected on a straightening path. Political parties, both in Opposition and government, are judged harshly. They are, instead, the motive force to protect democracy. A chance to evaluate the progress towards resilient democracy is the value of Democracy Day.