Resisting the Authoritarian Temptation

Abstract: The failures of democracies and democratic institutions in meeting climate challenges have led some scholars and activists to question whether democracy is functional at all in this new world. While some scholars and activists claim that democracy's failures in addressing climate change justify authoritarian governance, these arguments rely on empirical, conceptual, and normative confusions. The authors argue that democracies actually perform better than authoritarian regimes in addressing climate challenges, and possess unique resources for climate action through institutional flexibility, accountability, and information flows. This essay warns that trading away democratic governance for authoritarian control would be a grave mistake, as democracy's specific strengths become even more critical in times of crisis.