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The Responsibilities of Democracy
Democracy operates on consent. That means politicians have an obligation to present and argue their causes in order to ultimately win consensus. Above all, democracy requires honesty—in facing up to challenges, acknowledging fears and dangers, and admitting the limitations of government. But democracy has its flaws, not least in the lack of efficiency in the decision-making process.
Amid pressing questions about the nature and limits of democracy, both in Britain and beyond, The Responsibilities of Democracy provides a clear-eyed perspective shared by two former politicians. Two central figures of the British political establishment, John Major and Nick Clegg, share their thoughts on where democracy is heading and how it can survive in the twenty-first century. Offering his perspective as a former prime minister, Major writes of the qualities on which a healthy democracy depends and expresses his deep concerns about the declining decorum of political exchange. Clegg brings a counter-perspective in discussing the ways in which political language has always involved trading insults and argues that echo chambers, although now more sophisticated, are nothing new. Compromise, Clegg insists, is not betrayal, but is instead the very substance of our politics and our democracy. The Responsibilities of Democracy explores the overall health of UK democracy, giving a balanced analysis of its values and flaws. It is also a clarion call to the electorate and politicians to nurture and protect the precious values on which democracy depends.
Amid pressing questions about the nature and limits of democracy, both in Britain and beyond, The Responsibilities of Democracy provides a clear-eyed perspective shared by two former politicians. Two central figures of the British political establishment, John Major and Nick Clegg, share their thoughts on where democracy is heading and how it can survive in the twenty-first century. Offering his perspective as a former prime minister, Major writes of the qualities on which a healthy democracy depends and expresses his deep concerns about the declining decorum of political exchange. Clegg brings a counter-perspective in discussing the ways in which political language has always involved trading insults and argues that echo chambers, although now more sophisticated, are nothing new. Compromise, Clegg insists, is not betrayal, but is instead the very substance of our politics and our democracy. The Responsibilities of Democracy explores the overall health of UK democracy, giving a balanced analysis of its values and flaws. It is also a clarion call to the electorate and politicians to nurture and protect the precious values on which democracy depends.
90 pages, Paperback
Published May 29, 2020
About the author
John Major
71 books16 followersSir John Major, KG, CH.
Member of Parliament from 1979-2001. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 28 November 1990 – 2 May 1997.
Invested a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 1999 and a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG) in 2005.
Member of Parliament from 1979-2001. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 28 November 1990 – 2 May 1997.
Invested a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 1999 and a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG) in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 16, 2022
nick clegg and john major r both silly but nick had a point when he criticised fast fashion and newspapers for being only owned by old white men and using scare tactics with immigration to encourage vote leave!!
June 30, 2026
Both essays have great points.
I particularly love Majors dissent of nationalism and, in particular, the assertion that nationalism is “un-Christian”.
Clegg offers an interesting analysis of the relationship between rise of voter volatility and the plethora of choice people have on social media and the internet. I also like how Clegg argues that the increase of polarisation could be attributed to how, nowadays, people can tailor their newsfeeds and media feeds in general to what chimes with their views, compared to back in the day when there was only a handful of TV channels and newspapers.
Both essays do not offer any proper or tangible solution to problems raised. I would rather that they both (being exceptional political minds) wrote about a more well rounded strategy to combat the problems they bring up rather than simply quoting Voltaire.
I particularly love Majors dissent of nationalism and, in particular, the assertion that nationalism is “un-Christian”.
Clegg offers an interesting analysis of the relationship between rise of voter volatility and the plethora of choice people have on social media and the internet. I also like how Clegg argues that the increase of polarisation could be attributed to how, nowadays, people can tailor their newsfeeds and media feeds in general to what chimes with their views, compared to back in the day when there was only a handful of TV channels and newspapers.
Both essays do not offer any proper or tangible solution to problems raised. I would rather that they both (being exceptional political minds) wrote about a more well rounded strategy to combat the problems they bring up rather than simply quoting Voltaire.
May 14, 2025
Just read the very interesting Responsibilities of Democracy. As a youth I never rated John Major, probably heavily influenced by Spitting Image, but what a proper politician he is.
Less interested in Nick Clegg’s essay, probably still smarting from the coalition. Excellent
Less interested in Nick Clegg’s essay, probably still smarting from the coalition. Excellent
July 16, 2025
Enlightening - Definitely preferred Nicolas Cleggs ideology of where democracy is heading however this was interesting overall.
August 31, 2025
Nothing in here that you don't already know.
Both essays essentially boil down to 'people are being very nasty about each other in politics these days and that's not very nice is it?'. This is not exactly news to anyone, and it was never news to anyone who was paying even the remotest bit of attention.
Neither essay really identifies the causes of these issues but still tries to prescribe a cure. Major says that we have a responsibility to debate with racists, which is an unsatisfying answer, whilst Clegg says we ought to be more aware of what we read and do on social media.
Clegg of course had his chance to actually change social media for the better during his tenure at Meta, but failed miserably and now things are so, so much worse. Major has done his time and has been holding back the tide of anti-EU sentiment his whole life - one of the main motivators of our poisoned discourse today - so kudos to him, in fairness.
Both essays essentially boil down to 'people are being very nasty about each other in politics these days and that's not very nice is it?'. This is not exactly news to anyone, and it was never news to anyone who was paying even the remotest bit of attention.
Neither essay really identifies the causes of these issues but still tries to prescribe a cure. Major says that we have a responsibility to debate with racists, which is an unsatisfying answer, whilst Clegg says we ought to be more aware of what we read and do on social media.
Clegg of course had his chance to actually change social media for the better during his tenure at Meta, but failed miserably and now things are so, so much worse. Major has done his time and has been holding back the tide of anti-EU sentiment his whole life - one of the main motivators of our poisoned discourse today - so kudos to him, in fairness.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews