Democracy requires informed citizens and critical judgment

Sociologist Giorgos Piperopoulos argues that modern democracies, both in Greece and globally, are struggling due to a lack of well-informed and critical-thinking citizens. He notes that while democratic structures exist in many UN member states, the essential safeguards to ensure majority rule while protecting minority rights are failing.

Piperopoulos highlights that citizens are increasingly burdened by misinformation and a lack of objective, responsible information. In Greece, he observes that declining newspaper circulation and media outlets—both television and radio—that lean toward specific political parties or ideologies prevent the public from making informed decisions. This lack of accurate information leads voters to feel trapped in false dilemmas, such as the choice between a specific leader or total chaos.