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If the 20th century is remembered as the century of civil struggles for the making of democracy, the 21st century will be recorded as the century of civil resistance for the preservation of democracy. Most totalitarian regimes, either fascist or communist, have been defeated in the past 80 years, either by military action or by nonviolent revolution of citizens. It goes without saying that the modern human condition has been inextricably bound up with the ability of individuals or groups to make a difference to their destinies by fighting for freedom and home rule. Undoubtedly, these could be considered as exemplary men and women who struggled to keep democracy safe while undergoing terrible personal sufferings.

In a world like ours where most democracies are endangered by the lack of passion and the conformist attitude of the citizens, to see the young students of Hong Kong and the Ukrainians fighting for their freedom and democracy is very promising. That being so, one can say that the democratic contract, as much as the process of democratisation of dictatorships, are both in need of heroes. As such, if Pericles was the democratic hero of the Athenians in 5th century BC and Nelson Mandela that of South Africa and its democratic dream, today Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the hero of the Ukrainian democracy and its uncertain future. A former comedian, Zelenskyys journey in politics has been that of a courageous soul facing his destiny and reminding us of sacrifice for human dignity and democracy.

In his seminal work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell defines a hero as one who battles either personal or historical limitations and who becomes a source through which his society is reborn. Campbell describes a hero as a powerful human being who embarks on a quest to win a war, gain a mystical object. That is why the hero should undergo a series of tests or trials. For Zelenskyy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been a great test of courage and a learning process of democratic heroism. Even if Ukraine loses the war of democracy against Russian authoritarianism, Zelenskyy will always be remembered as a democratic hero who achieved a moral victory against Vladimir Putin.

The irony of history is that Zelenskyy never had the intention of becoming a leader, in the sense of someone who goes about the practical business of the masses. And yet, in his confrontation with the Russian Leviathan, democracy, for him, has become a matter of conviction. His pursuit of the democratic ideal has been very much like that of a Homeric hero who has no limits in achieving his goals. This moral and political effort makes him even a more inspiring leader for a democratic world that is desperately looking for democratic heroes. The truth is that without a democratic leadership, la Mandela, democratic passion cannot be maintained for long. People often talk about strong and specific democratic leadership. What is forgotten, however, is that there are many leaders around the world who are democratically elected, yet who have neither political courage nor the moral integrity to fight the rise of authoritarianism.

The war in Ukraine is unbelievable and tragic and all the more gripping and inspiring for having at its centre a former comedian with a great humanistic appeal. Let us not forget what Shakespeare said, Be not afraid of greatness: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Today, Zelenskyys greatness is in defending democracy, its values, and its future.

The tragedy of Ukraine is an important page of our political history, raising urgent questions about the fragility of our democracies, resistance to an abuse of power that carries itself as far as it will go (as Baron de Montesquieu used to say), and the moral power of the powerless Ukrainians. As history shows us, chaotic circumstances have always demanded heroes to challenge the evil forces at work. But there is another related matter that concerns the future of Ukraine and the democratic fate of a politician like Zelenskyy.

When Vaclav Havel and his fellow Czech intellectuals and artists signed the Charter 77 against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, they dared to confront an ideological power with the only thing at their disposal their search for truth and an idea of democracy as a form of associated living where political actors can recognise themselves in the challenges. Tragedies of democracy demonstrate that great human suffering can encourage individual claims to dignity and freedom. Today, more than ever, the spirit of democracy in Ukraine is confronted with a political tragedy in which the feelings of horror and sorrow are accompanied with heroic moments of civil resistance and democratic heroism. After all, the salvation of democracy lies nowhere else than in the human love for democracy.

This column first appeared in the print edition on April 2, 2022 under the title A leader for the time. The writer is Noor-York Chair in Islamic Studies, York University, Toronto

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy will always be remembered as a democratic hero - The Indian Express

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reflected this week on the importance of the 2022 midterm elections. It is absolutely essential for our democracy that we win, she said, referring to Democratic officials and candidates. I fear for our democracy if the Republicans were ever to get the gavel.

For Sen. Ted Cruz, the comments were emblematic of a larger problem. Heres what the Texas Republican said on Fox News last night:

They know theyre gonna lose and Nancy Pelosis not gonna go quietly. Shes gonna scream, shes already preparing to scream the election was stolen. And by the way, what she means by stolen is people showed up to vote against Democrats. Thats what stealing the election is. And remember, Democrats dont believe in democracy.

So, a couple of things.

First, Pelosi never said anything about the 2022 elections being stolen.

Second, Cruzs timing couldve been better.

Literally the day before the Republican senator claimed that Democrats dont believe in democracy, The Washington Post published a thorough and well researched report on Cruzs efforts to keep Donald Trump in power after the then-president lost in 2020.

An examination by The Washington Post of Cruzs actions between Election Day and Jan. 6, 2021, shows just how deeply he was involved, working directly with Trump to concoct a plan that came closer than widely realized to keeping him in power. As Cruz went to extraordinary lengths to court Trumps base and lay the groundwork for his own potential 2024 presidential bid, he also alienated close allies and longtime friends who accused him of abandoning his principles.

The article quoted Republican Rep. Liz Cheney explaining, I think that Senator Cruz knew exactly what he was doing. I think that Senator Cruz is somebody who knows what the Constitution calls for, knows what his duties and obligations are, and was willing, frankly, to set that aside.

By his own admission, Cruz led the charge to stand in the way of certifying the rightful winners election. Its what led the editorial board of The Houston Chronicle last year to call for the Texas Republican to resign. The editorial board of The San Antonio Express News even called for Cruzs expulsion from Congress.

Around the same time, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey appeared on NBC News Meet the Press and said, in reference to Cruz and Josh Hawley, Theyre going to have a lot of soul searching to do. And the problem is they were complicit in the Big Lie.

Longtime Cruz friend Chad Sweet, a former CIA operative who chaired the senators 2016 presidential campaign, also denounced Cruz for abetting an assault on our democracy.

Cruz now wants people to believe Democrats are the ones who dont believe in democracy? After his own well documented efforts to attack democracy as recently as last year?

Related:

Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics."

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Ted Cruz picks the wrong time to tout the virtues of democracy - MSNBC

Correction: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect spelling for COVID-19.

While attention is properly focused on Putins Russia and Ukraine, there is another battle for democratic values that has been flying under the radar. Political developments in Serbia may seem far away, but Americans ignore developments in the Balkans at their peril. Battles between autocrats andthose in favor of democracy, plus intercommunal strife, have had seismic impacts on the rest of the world from World War I to the horrific Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Under autocratic PresidentAleksandar Vucic, Serbia is the only country in Eastern Europe outside of Russian ally Belarus, not to impose economic sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

This should come as no surprise to those who follow developments in the Balkans. Putin has been arming Vucic with tanks, fighter jets and air defense systems. With all Western eyes on Ukraine, Vucic could initiate yet another deadly Balkan conflict by supporting Bosnian Serbs long-standing desire to secede and join Serbia.

In 2020, theWorld Press Freedom Index rankedVucics Serbia 93rd.According toFreedom House, At some media outlets, journalists are implicitly aware of which topics they can and cannot discuss freely.A media watchdog calculated thatbetweenDecember 2020 and April 2021, Vucic racked up 50 hours of on-screen time 85 percent positive.In April of 2020,journalistAna Lali was arrestedafter reporting negatively on the countrys response to COVID-19.

When I was in Belgrade, in conversation with the manager at a German-owned newspaper, she confided to me that if they wrote critically about Vucic, they would instantly lose all of their advertising income. They choose not to do it.

Vucics slick pro-Western demeanor abroad has too often allowed his anti-democratic actions at home to escape notice. But the United States government has begun to take notice. In August of last year,aletter signed by six members of Congresscalled on President Biden toconsider imposing sanctions on those destabilizing the Western Balkans in Serbia and to continue to engage the Serbian government about rooting out corruption and ending repression of the press.

It went on to say that freedom of the press has reached a new low point in Serbia Serbia is a country where journalists are subjected toalmost daily attacks that increasingly come from the ruling elite and pro-government media.

In the run-up to the Serbian elections next month, theNew York TimesandMSNBChave reported that Vucics government and ruling party are using funds from publicly owned companies, mainly Serbian Telecom, to pressure the few remaining independent media companies and shut them down.

In early December, the Biden administration took action, ordering tough sanctions on a close Vucic ally Zvonko Veselinovic and his organized crime group (OCG). The U.S Treasury Department imposed sanctions and issuedits statement sending shock waves through Serbia.

Vucic has an impeccably authoritarian pedigree. As minister of information for Serbias former authoritarian leader and war criminal Slobodan Milosevic, he pushed through massive press censorship decrees in the 1990s.

Earlier in the 1990s, Vucic served as second-in-command of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party where he helped organize paramilitary volunteer units to fight in Croatia and Bosnia, where they had a reputation for plunder and killing.

After Milosevic and Serbian Radical Party leader, Vojislav Seselj, were indicted for war crimes, Vucic launched the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Like Putin, Vucic sought to empower a cadre of oligarchs who helped fuel his rise. As deputy prime minister, and then as president, he built an SNS patronage army, and, like former President Donald Trump, used grievance to mobilize public support.

Vucics cadre of oligarchs have benefited by protection, privatization and state contracts. They now control the energy, telecommunications, infrastructure and media. Vucics brother Andrej Vucic, his closest confidant, has reputed ties to powerful criminal syndicates. In August, FrancesLeMonde, published a long investigative report alleging that another Vucic ally, Veljko Breviuk, had been involved in a brutal series of murders.

The United States should continue to sanction the Serbian government to end corruption, ensure a free press and fair elections.And it should help mobilize American allies to do the same.Americans cannot afford to ignore the battle for democratic values in Serbia.

RobertCreameris a long-time political organizer and strategist, and author of the book Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win. He is a partner in Democracy Partners.

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Second European country refusing to sanction Russia a challenge to democracy - The Hill

Representative John Katko, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, said he and Thompson have a terrific partnership, stemming from an understanding of the bipartisan importance of the committees purview. Its a real joy working with him, said Katko, who is retiring at the end of the year. Thats one of the guys Im really going to miss working with when I leave here. (Katko, who was one of just 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump after the events of January 6, was sure to clarify that his praise of Thompson pertained only to the Homeland Security Committee.)

Thompson is also widely praised by members of the select committee, who say that he has fostered a collaborative environment. Hes very careful and inclusive as chairman. He makes sure that we have an opportunity to reach consensus, said Representative Zoe Lofgren. She added that she wanted to particularly credit him for his decision to elevate GOP Representative Liz Cheney to the role of committee vice chair. For her part, Cheney called Thompson a tremendous leader in a statement to The New Republic. Bennie combines the wisdom, judgment, patience, and good humor necessary to guide our committee at this historic moment, she said. Im proud of our work together and honored to be his friend.

Although Thompson can be seen giving interviews on cable news, he is not a fixture. I dont do a lot of talking, Thompson told me, because I like encouraging others to be engaged with whatever the process is. That focus on collaboration has served him well for the select committee, which includes two other committee chairs among its high-profile members: Lofgren, the leader of the House Administration Committee, and Representative Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

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Its Bennie Thompsons Moment to Defend Democracy - The New Republic

MOUNT LAUREL Who has the right to vote? What are the privileges and obligations of citizens? Whose voices will ultimately be heard? These questions have ruminated in the American psyche since the Revolutionary War and continue to affect citizens to this day. Explore them further and join the discussion at Rowan College at Burlington County from April 5 to May 5, as they display Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, an exhibit based on works currently displayed at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History.

Features of the exhibit include historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games and additional footage, photos and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia and protest material.

This exhibit will correlate with a year of programming integration with RCBC courses and events, including but not limited to Marketing the Movement: How Women Won the Vote, Early Voting on RCBCs Mount Laurel Campus and a Naturalization Ceremony which will take place on April 1. 50 candidates from 26 countries will earn citizenship during the ceremony. Visitrcbc.edu/smithsonianto see all upcoming events.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America has been made possible at Rowan College at Burlington County by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. Voices and Votes is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

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RCBC chosen as host site for Smithsonians Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit - The Trentonian