“We must promote courage where there is fear
Promote agreement where there is conflict
And inspire hope where there is despair.” – Nelson Mandela

I recall the words of Nelson Mandela with the deep belief that crises potentiate inequalities, a fertile ground to weaken Democracy. History is full of such episodes.

One of the consequences of the health crisis was some apathy in light of the threats to our life in society. Consecutive lockdowns, social distancing, loneliness, doubts, uncertainty have closed people down on themselves. In an increasingly technological world, social media have created the illusion of proximity, spreading absolute and simple answers to problems that are too complex. And the dangers for Democracy lie precisely here.

Last year’s crisis did not generate new inequalities but did increase the existing structures, fortunately, less severely than when responding to the last crisis. Confronted with this, the Welfare State responded to people’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities, defending employment, income, social protection, the functioning of the economy and democratic institutions.

But in the apnoea of these unlikely times, some try to blow the balloons of demagogy and populism. Falsehoods are transformed into truths, fear and insecurity are explored, anxieties are deepened and too easy answers are pointed out to solve so many problems. The populists who flourish in these moments don’t particularly have an ideology or project of society, but rather a political logic with a petty view of what Res Publica means, focusing their activities on a warlike view of people against each other, the ones here and the others out there, the poor and the privileged, the young and the old.

A strong bet on education and qualifications is the answer we have to come up with. In the face of the challenges we face, only a society with enlightened and therefore free citizens will be able to embrace difference and defend our most precious asset: Democracy. Only democratic societies make it possible to generate equality and respect for what is different, for the dignity of the individual, for the rights and duties of each person and their right to dream and change their lives.

In the face of the despair of many when looking at the future, let us know how to build the solid foundations of a strong democracy, consolidating the responses that improve equality.

It particular moments like these, concerted responses and the Welfare State have to work so that the comfort of the solution may become a factor of cohesion and not of absurd fractures that lead to the flourishing of populism.

We must guarantee the triumph of empathy in the face of all types of cynicism.