RSA Journal Issue 2 2021 Democracy in flux? Joseph Nye discusses what’s next for democracy post-Covid-19 Salim Abdool Karim urges an end to vaccine nationalism Emmanuelle Avril looks at party political funding and asks how it can be improved Exclusively yours... VOTED ONE OF LONDON’S BEST WEDDING VENUES BY THE EVENING STANDARD In the heart of Central London, tucked away on a serene and picturesque street, is RSA House. An extraordinarily stylish and romantic Georgian townhouse, available to be hired exclusively for your wedding. Have the luxury of hosting your entire day in one venue, with spaces that differ in style and character. From your ceremony in the contemporary Benjamin Franklin room, to your wedding meal in the impressive Great Room and evening party in the iconic exposed brick Vaults. All-inclusive, intimate wedding and ceremony-only packages are available. 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Commissioning editor Sam Lewis SC037784 Rachel O’Brien Shonagh Manson Distribution Don Mclaverty RSA Journal, Volume CLXVII Vanessa Woo HOME Charlotte Oades No. 55845 Issue 2 2021 Jan Portillo ISSN: 0958-0433 The RSA Journal is published Shaifali Puri for the RSA by Wardour, John Towers 2nd Floor, Kean House, 6 Kean Street, Affiliate Chairs London WC2B 4AS FROM Oceania Tel +44 (0)20 7010 0999 Mark Strachan www.wardour.co.uk United States of America Ric Grefé HOME Fellowship Council RSA House boasts 11 versatile event spaces that accommodate up to 220 guests. 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For more information about how we use your personal data, visit www.thersa.org/privacy-policy. 2 RSA Journal Issue 2 2021 020 7451 6855 | [email protected] | thersa.org/rsa-house | @rsahouse Comment Anthony Painter “ Transparency, complexity and honesty will help us build back stronger” here has been a prevailing narrative for some from the spectre of Covid-19. Countries should be time that democracy is on the decline. Donald encouraged to turn away from vaccine nationalism. TTrump’s loss in the 2020 US presidential The pandemic has been a tough time for many, election has been hailed as a turning away from especially for those who have suffered with Covid-19 the past four years of rising authoritarianism and or have lost a loved one to the disease. Nazir Afzal populism, yet the factors that led to this declining sets out how he thinks a public inquiry into the faith in democracy have not gone away, and the government’s handling of Covid-19 should be run and Covid-19 pandemic has been a major further stress the role that bereaved families and the public should on all societies. This edition of RSA Journal focuses play. He argues that this needs to happen now and on the threats to and future of democracy. that – as we examine what the government did right In his article, Hugo Drochon delves into conspiracy and where it could have done better – transparency, theories and their relationship to people’s faith in complexity and honesty will help us learn from this democratic processes and formal politics. In liberal terrible time and build back stronger. democracy, repression can never be the answer, he And in his interview, Joseph Nye takes a longer writes. The solution instead is to tackle the causes at view of democracy and populism, sounding a positive the root of belief in conspiracy theories, including trust. note about where we find ourselves today. In the short Of course, social media plays a huge part in term, the challenge of rebuilding trust in democracy spreading conspiracies. Nanjala Nyabola looks at requires that we adapt our democratic systems so that political speech on social media platforms, and the they are representative of all. By working together, difficulties in regulating what is said across different whether through promoting the idea of ‘inclusive jurisdictions worldwide. Social media companies have voice’, as Alexa Clay and Riley Thorold write, or taken more action of late, but it is clear we are only at by developing new forms of deliberative democracy, the start of a long journey on this issue. we can create new systems more suited to handle There are – argues Emmanuelle Avril – quicker the challenges of our world today. As Ruth Hannan changes that could help to address some of the argues in her piece on wellbeing, the RSA’s Living fractures in the relationship between citizens and their Change Approach aims to embrace complexity while political leaders. She examines the system of political encouraging and inspiring communities of change to party funding in the UK and elsewhere, noting that work together to take up this task. party financing, while necessary, can seem opaque In this edition of the journal we also say goodbye to to voters and create distrust. Legislation, although Matthew Taylor, who is moving on to pastures new. hard to implement, is one part of the answer, but, Matthew’s accomplishments at the helm of the RSA ultimately – again – developing trust in political are far too numerous to list here and he has been an parties is essential. important voice in this journal. We wish him all the While in the UK it may feel like we can see the light best in his new position as Chief Executive of the NHS at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, this is not the case Confederation and we extend our welcome to Andy for some countries, including India, the world’s largest Haldane, the RSA’s new Chief Executive, who will be democracy. In his article, Salim Abdool Karim points taking over the role in September. We look forward to Anthony Painter is Chief Research and out that until we have fair and equitable vaccine this new chapter in the RSA’s story and to seeing what Impact Officer at distribution worldwide, none of us will be safe more we can achieve over the next few years. the RSA www.thersa.org 3 Contents ISSUE 2 2021 Long read Medium read 16 Vaccine distribution 20 Dangerous deceptions Salim Abdool Karim Hugo Drochon warns of the dangers of examines the prevalance vaccine nationalism of conspiracy theories 10 In conversation Joseph Nye is interviewed by Lauren Gambino about the changing world order post-Covid-19, and where next for liberal democracy 32 Follow the money 36 The good life Emmanuelle Avril asks how What do we actually mean party political funding might by ‘wellbeing’? Ruth Hannan be more effectively legislated makes the case for centring the concept 26 In conversation 44 The dark side of green In one of his final interviews as RSA Chief Far-right groups are adopting Executive, Matthew Taylor speaks with Immy ecological policy platforms, Kaur about his time at the Society warns Jean-Yves Camus 4 RSA Journal Issue 2 2021 Short read Periscope US president Joe Biden has pledged to dedicate US$4bn to the Covax programme (page 15). Canada purchased enough Covid-19 vaccines to immunise every citizen five times over (page 18). Conspiracy theories are ‘self-sealing’: any 24 A public reckoning 41 Time for D-bonds? new information that might challenge the There should be a public Marcos Buscaglia theory is absorbed as further proof that inquiry into Covid-19, and it champions democratic it is, in fact, true (page 23).