Contact and Democracy

‘No-Contact’ In The 1700s

Katie Barclay | Zócalo Public Square | 1st October 2026

Long before we had phones with a "block" function, family members have been going their separate ways. Medieval European folklore is full of people walking off into the woods after a family rift. In the early modern period, parents sometimes publicly cut ties with offspring who married without consent. Over the centuries, single, childless and poor people have found it easiest to make a clean break (1,300 words)

The Illusion Of Representation

Cyril Hédoin | The Archimedean Point | 30th September 2026

A healthy liberal democracy should be more than just a string of referenda where the majority make the decisions. The perfect franchise is an illusion. "Democracy is not only about voting so that one’s voice is heard. It’s also, and foremost, about guaranteeing that individuals have various ways to voice their concerns and are offered credible and realistic exit options in case they are not satisfied" (2,100 words)