Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others' famously said Churchill.
Votes can polarize nations and empower demagogues. Even Hitler was democratically elected. Should we be more sceptical of democracy? Might alternatives from philosopher kings to oligarchy create a better society? Or would these always risk tyranny?
Nic Cheeseman: Professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham, Cheeseman is the co-author of How to Rig an Election.
Natalie Bennett: Former leader of the Green Party and former editor of the Guardian Weekly, Bennett is also founder of the Blog Carnival of Feminists.
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: Award-winning journalist, author and commentator, Alibhai-Brown currently writes for the i Newspaper and International Business Times. She co-founded ‘British Muslims for Secular Democracy’.
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