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“Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democratic accountability. Dissent is not disorder; it is democratic participation. A confident state does not fear criticism.”

Last update Sept. 26, 2026. History

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“Are democratic governments accountable to the people who elected them? And, critically, is the public in democratic countries responsible for the actions...?”

Arundhati Roy (1961) Indian novelist, essayist

Arundhati Roy: Tide? Or Ivory Snow? Public Power in the Age of Empire, Speech, San Francisco, California https://www.democracynow.org/2004/8/23/public_power_in_the_age_of (16 August 2004) Speeches

“An omnipresent surveillance state … makes democratic dissent impossible. Any state that has the ability to inflict full spectrum dominance on its citizens is not a free state.”

Chris Hedges (1956) American journalist

29:29 “ Our Only Hope Will Come Through Rebellion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOlg_2qAbUA” (2014)

“You cannot have democratic accountability in anything bigger than a nation state.”

Václav Klaus (1941) 2nd President of the Czech Republic

The Sierra Staff Strikes Back, With Some Help From The SPLC https://archive.is/20120529155704/www.vdare.com/walker/sierra_media_war.htm Czech warns Europe of 'dream world' woes http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2003/nov/24/20031124-110833-1781r/

“The right of self-determination of the peoples includes the right to a state of their own. However, the foundation of a state does not increase the freedom of a people. The system of the United Nations that is based on nation-states has remained inefficient. Meanwhile, nation-states have become serious obstacles for any social development. Democratic confederalism is the contrasting paradigm of the oppressed people. Democratic confederalism is a non-state social paradigm. It is not controlled by a state. At the same time, democratic confederalism is the cultural organizational blueprint of a democratic nation. Democratic confederalism is based on grassroots participation. Its decision-making processes lie with the communities. Higher levels only serve the coordination and implementation of the will of the communities that send their delegates to the general assemblies. For limited space of time they are both mouthpiece and executive institution. However, the basic power of decision rests with the local grassroots institutions.”

Abdullah Öcalan (1949) Founder of the PKK

Source: Prison Writings: Roots of Civilisation, excerpt " Democratic Confederalism http://www.freedom-for-ocalan.com/english/".

“Distrust was counted as a democratic virtue, and over-confidence as a democratic vice.”

Wilhelm Liebknecht (1826–1900) German socialist politician

No Compromise – No Political Trading (1899)

“Participation is a hallmark of democratic governance.”

Alfred de Zayas (1947) American United Nations official

Post-2015 Agenda should include elected UN Assembly to strengthen democratic participation http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/722.php. 2014, UNPA - World Parliamentary Assembly

“In totalitarian States citizen have no voice. In democratic countries, however, citizens bear responsibility for the decisions taken by their democratically elected officials. If crimes are committed in their name, it is their responsibility to demand accountability.”

Alfred de Zayas (1947) American United Nations official

2015, Report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council Source: Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order exploring the adverse impacts of military expenditures on the realization of a democratic and equitable international order http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IntOrder/Pages/Reports.aspx.

“how can a democratic discourse exist in a corporate owned informational system? Who, for example, possesses freedom of speech in such a society?”

Herbert Schiller (1919–2000) American media critic

Source: Living In The Number One Country (2000), Chapter Five, Corporatizing Communication And Culture, p. 138

“The state of Israel is a project of Jewish nationalism that is as legitimate as any other national project. But Israel as a state is not perfect and cannot be above criticism in democratic societies, including practical criticism.”

Juan Cole (1952) American scholar

Israel Source: The Misuses of Anti-Semitism http://hnn.us/articles/1002.html, Juan Cole, History News Network, September 30, 2002

“The Philippines, as a country deemed democratic and developing, cannot rest on its antiquated laws that run detrimental and contrary to the exercise of freedom. Decriminalizing libel accords greater protection to freedom of speech and expression.”

Francis Escudero (1969) Filipino politician

Manila Bulletin http://www.mb.com.ph/senators-keen-on-decriminalizing-libel/ 2014

“Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democratic accountability. Dissent is not disorder; it is democratic participation. A confident state does not fear criticism.”

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