Sometimes I think we need to be realistic and accept that there are populations on the planet which have a hundred - or hundreds - of years of work to evolve past their current mindset. I can think of a number of countries where the general population does not seem to have the capacities for this type of responsibility. If every issue devolves into a a cutthroat battle rather than a serious discussion at the end of which opinions are expressed, society cannot handle regular voting since it is primed for corruption.

A deep education on civic duty rather than nationalism is one obvious piece of the puzzle, but also a safety net and affluence where people are not desperate and can remain free of basic economic pressure to conform is another big one. Perhaps the biggest one that I have seen missing from my own country and others is a true desire for personal excellence, one that is even greater than the desire for success. Including philosophy in education from a younger age can help with instilling that mindset.

What do you think has helped Switzerland as a society succeed as a democracy?