Connect and Divide: Democracy Under Pressure

Connect and Divide: Democracy Under Pressure

16 September 2025

Around the world, democracy faces mounting pressure, and recent events illustrate both connection and division in stark terms.

The assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk in the United States is a vivid example. The 31-year-old commentator and activist was shot in the neck from a distance of 130 meters by a 22-year-old gunman. Authorities suggest the motive was political—Kirk’s outspoken opinions—but outside the U.S., many people had never even heard of him. This incident highlights a harsh reality: holding a dissenting opinion can make one a target, and polarization has real, violent consequences.

At the same time, a local fire chief was dismissed after pointing out that a renovated tax office did not comply with fire safety regulations. A seemingly minor act of speaking truth to power resulted in professional retaliation. Both cases reveal the same pattern: societies struggle to tolerate deviation from the norm, and voices that challenge authority are silenced rather than heard.

These examples underscore the divide. Polarization erodes trust, fuels fear, and leads to confrontation rather than dialogue. Entire communities, as seen in Gaza, are destroyed when conflict escalates unchecked.

Yet, the connect aspect remains vital. The questions we must ask are: how do we bring people back together? How can societies reconcile, heal, and collaborate despite differences? Can bridges be rebuilt, or will the cycle of division continue?

The challenge is clear: without conscious effort to connect, division grows—and democracy itself becomes fragile.

Miguel Goede