Margaret Atwood takes aim at democracy’s fragility in FT video series
The Handmaid’s Tale author’s razor-sharp take urges people to call politicians bluff.
Business publication The Financial Times has launched a four-part series, titled ‘Democracy, 2024,’ to examine what democracy will look like in the year ahead.
In the first film, Canadian novelist and poet Margaret Atwood demonstrates how democracy can be eroded and how people can be fooled into thinking authoritarianism is a preferred option. She urges viewers to “call the bluff“ of leaders who tell us otherwise.
FT editor Roula Khalaf said of the series: “As we look ahead to 2024 and the historic number of global elections, this series of powerful and thought-provoking films astutely captures the essence of democracy and what it means to each and every one of us.
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“It’s part of a broader editorial initiative to equip voters with expert commentary, analysis and data in what will be an unprecedented year for democracies around the world.”
Three further films include Indian comedian Aditi Mittal in a sitcom-style sketch, Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak drawing on nature to illustrate the parallels between democracy and the broader ecosystem and Nigerian poet and author Lola Shoneyin reciting a poem about how coups and military dictatorships in Africa have threatened democracies over the decades.
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The campaign is a collaborative effort between director Juliet Riddell and several artists, including experiential art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast and musician Made Kuti.
The series is available to watch online and across social media channels.
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