Catalyst Kōrero with Max Rashbrooke, Wednesday April 2
Shock election results and threats to democratic values across the western world reflect “a febrile, restive mood, and an alarming loss of political trust among some voters,” high-profile political commentator Max Rashbrooke says.
His Catalyst Kōrero in Queenstown on April 2 will look at what’s causing these global trends, their potential impacts on democracy here and abroad – and how political trust might be restored.
Rashbrooke is the founder of a new think-tank, IDEA (Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis), and a senior research fellow at Victoria University, where he specialises in issues of democratic renewal and economic inequality.
Reputable surveys show plummeting trust in, for instance, the US government in recent decades. Closer to home, just one-third of poorer Kiwis feel they “have a say” in political decisions. Worldwide, traditional media are losing audiences, while disinformation spreads rapidly and threatens even our shared understanding of reality.
So what can we do to restore political trust and protect democracy, both globally and here in New Zealand? And how do issues of political trust connect to concerns about the disparities between rich and poor?
“We can’t go on as we are,” Rashbrooke says. “The problems of tomorrow won’t be solved by the institutions of today. We need to renew the way we do democracy.”
Wednesday, April 2, 6 to 7:30 pm, at The Rees Hotel Queenstown. Registration required HERE to ensure your seat. Please donate online or bring cash for your koha, which will be given to Queenstown community support centre Happiness House.