Democracy Succeeds (At Least in Bangladesh)

New Thinking for a New World · Mar 5, 2026 · 36m · transcript

Student leaders on revolution, elections, and democracy’s revival in Bangladesh.

It is not news that democracy is in trouble almost everywhere. Poll after poll shows that people in most countries—especially in the West and throughout the Americas—are disappointed with democracy as it exists today. This is particularly true among young people, many of whom seem to prefer a strong leader to the apparent impotence of their democratic leaders.

Of course, there are exceptions, and we should celebrate them. Top of that list is Bangladesh, with a history of autocratic leaders, some of…