Under the radar: When democracy is in serious doubt

27.08.2026, lake around Appelhof, Hamburg-Bramfeld, Germany, self-employed father of two with just over € 5000 net income monthly, bold heart, mid-forties, while for twenty minutes doing physical exercises together met by chance: “I also do not like democracy. What I criticise most is that politicians are not held to account. Jens Spahn (former German Health Minister) signed masked deals during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a serious loss to Germany and no consequences. They hide behind political parties instead; such people must sign orders personally and must pay with their own money if things go wrong. That is accountability and treating taxpayers fairly and right. No, the AfD has become very Nazi-style, with a leader who is lesbian living in Switzerland with her wife and adopted children. But there are some elements in their manifesto which I agree with. And political processes take far too much time. We must find a serious alternative, as right now this is unacceptable. And many like me think the same. The AfD will rule in Sachsen-Anhalt and Thüringen soon alone. Look at the numbers.“

My international students are very sceptical towards democracy as a governmental concept, seeing the negative sides as more damaging to their future than the advantages it brings to society and each individual. Publicly, they hide their views, coming out only in closed, secure circles, fearing serious opposition. As I lecture them on the 3rd Reich under Adolf Hitler, they see the negative consequences a dictatorship can bring, as under Russian President Stalin. They are confused and helpless, unable to think of an alternative beyond the obvious because of a lack of knowledge.

In the 1980s, while I studied at Hamburg University, we students often demanded for Africa the „Third Way“, a way between capitalism and communism, without ever having had correct knowledge and ideas about the „Third Way“, only a weak, unspecified dream. Africa is not a dream, but rather a harsh reality only for men with a lion's heart. Democracy in Africa is the tool by which former tribes and royal elites can use politics on national and local levels to be reflected in certain political parties and still have a grip on their people. The voters do or die mentality and lack of independent minds allow political parties to play back the ball of power to the local community, seen in e.g. galamsey environmental destruction in Ghana or the show-fights against corruption and mismanagement. For presidents to win upcoming elections, they need to please voters by launching projects regardless of their credibility and feasibility. African presidents cannot personally be held accountable for their actions by eventually taking away their assets for repayment. They are cushioned and safeguarded by their political parties, so the ministers, party strong people and party government officials. Democratic elected presidents, no matter how much damage they cause, never flee into exile, while dictators ousted do.

Elected kingdoms, on the other hand, see kings fall replaced by successors.