[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.37,0:00:03.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm afraid I'm one of those speakers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.14,0:00:06.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you hope you're not going to meet at TED.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.35,0:00:07.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, I don't have a mobile,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.69,0:00:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I'm on the safe side.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.52,0:00:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly, a political theorist
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.72,0:00:14.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's going to talk about the crisis of democracy
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.19,0:00:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is probably not the most exciting topic you can think about.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.26,0:00:20.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And plus, I'm not going to give you any answers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.74,0:00:24.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm much more trying to add to some of the questions we're talking about.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.58,0:00:26.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of the things that I want to question
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.74,0:00:29.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is this very popular hope these days
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.46,0:00:31.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that transparency and openness
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.39,0:00:35.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can restore the trust in democratic institutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.69,0:00:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is one more reason for you to be suspicious about me.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.41,0:00:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You people, the Church of TED, are a very optimistic community.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.39,0:00:45.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.59,0:00:50.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basically you believe in complexity, but not in ambiguity.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.51,0:00:53.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you have been told, I'm Bulgarian.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.43,0:00:55.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And according to the surveys,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.01,0:00:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are marked the most pessimistic people in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.58,0:01:00.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.36,0:01:03.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Economist magazine recently wrote an article
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.95,0:01:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,covering one of the recent studies on happiness,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.50,0:01:11.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the title was "The Happy, the Unhappy and the Bulgarians."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.34,0:01:12.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.94,0:01:16.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now when you know what to expect,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.78,0:01:18.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let's give you the story.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.22,0:01:23.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a rainy election day in a small country --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.17,0:01:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can be my country, but could be also your country.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.50,0:01:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because of the rain until four o'clock in the afternoon,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.30,0:01:32.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nobody went to the polling stations.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.99,0:01:34.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then the rain stopped,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.75,0:01:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people went to vote.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.99,0:01:40.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when the votes had been counted,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.14,0:01:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three-fourths of the people have voted with a blank ballot.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.45,0:01:49.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The government and the opposition,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.80,0:01:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they have been simply paralyzed.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.74,0:01:54.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because you know what to do about the protests.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.85,0:01:56.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know who to arrest, who to negotiate with.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.84,0:02:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what to do about people who are voting with a blank ballot?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.18,0:02:06.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the government decided to have the elections once again.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.52,0:02:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this time even a greater number,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.07,0:02:14.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,83 percent of the people, voted with blank ballots.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.25,0:02:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basically they went to the ballot boxes
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.00,0:02:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to tell that they have nobody to vote for.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.07,0:02:25.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the opening of a beautiful novel by Jose Saramago
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.10,0:02:26.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called "Seeing."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.58,0:02:28.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in my view it very well captures
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.83,0:02:33.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,part of the problem that we have with democracy in Europe these days.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.22,0:02:35.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On one level nobody's questioning
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.88,0:02:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that democracy is the best form of government.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.78,0:02:42.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Democracy is the only game in town.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.52,0:02:44.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem is that many people start to believe
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.83,0:02:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it is not a game worth playing.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.54,0:02:51.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the last 30 years, political scientists have observed
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.83,0:02:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there is a constant decline in electoral turnout,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.38,0:03:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the people who are least interested to vote
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.30,0:03:04.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are the people whom you expect are going to gain most out of voting.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.94,0:03:08.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean the unemployed, the under-privileged.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.36,0:03:10.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a major issue.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.06,0:03:12.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because especially now with the economic crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.79,0:03:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see that the trust in politics,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.24,0:03:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the trust in democratic institutions,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.82,0:03:19.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was really destroyed.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.74,0:03:23.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,According to the latest survey being done by the European Commission,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.35,0:03:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,89 percent of the citizens of Europe believe that there is a growing gap
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.24,0:03:34.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the opinion of the policy-makers and the opinion of the public.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.56,0:03:38.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Only 18 percent of Italians and 15 percent of Greeks
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.57,0:03:41.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,believe that their vote matters.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.72,0:03:45.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basically people start to understand that they can change governments,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.79,0:03:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they cannot change policies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.29,0:03:50.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the question which I want to ask is the following:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.90,0:03:54.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How did it happen that we are living in societies
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.82,0:03:57.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are much freer than ever before --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.37,0:04:00.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have more rights, we can travel easier,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.05,0:04:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have access to more information --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.40,0:04:05.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the same time that trust in our democratic institutions
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.79,0:04:08.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,basically has collapsed?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.37,0:04:09.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So basically I want to ask:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.81,0:04:14.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What went right and what went wrong in these 50 years
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.66,0:04:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we talk about democracy?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.46,0:04:20.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'll start with what went right.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.34,0:04:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the first thing that went right was, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.40,0:04:25.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these five revolutions which, in my view,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.87,0:04:30.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very much changed the way we're living and deepened our democratic experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.46,0:04:35.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the first was the cultural and social revolution of 1968 and 1970s,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.68,0:04:38.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which put the individual at the center of politics.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.50,0:04:40.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the human rights moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.91,0:04:44.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Basically this was also a major outbreak, a culture of dissent,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.76,0:04:48.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a culture of basically non-conformism,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.63,0:04:50.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was not known before.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.93,0:04:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I do believe that even things like that
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.28,0:04:56.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are very much the children of '68 --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.73,0:05:00.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nevertheless that most of us had been even not born then.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.15,0:05:03.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But after that you have the market revolution of the 1980s.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.20,0:05:06.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And nevertheless that many people on the left try to hate it,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.83,0:05:11.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the truth is that it was very much the market revolution that sent the message:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.45,0:05:13.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The government does not know better."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.12,0:05:16.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you have more choice-driven societies.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.03,0:05:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And of course, you have 1989 -- the end of Communism, the end of the Cold War.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.60,0:05:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was the birth of the global world.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.90,0:05:27.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you have the Internet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.03,0:05:29.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is not the audience to which I'm going to preach
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.100,0:05:32.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what extent the Internet empowered people.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.41,0:05:35.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has changed the way we are communicating
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.25,0:05:36.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and basically we are viewing politics.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.100,0:05:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The very idea of political community totally has changed.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.02,0:05:42.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm going to name one more revolution,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.33,0:05:44.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is the revolution in brain sciences,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.16,0:05:46.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which totally changed the way
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.06,0:05:49.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we understand how people are making decisions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.40,0:05:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is what went right.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.36,0:05:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if we're going to see what went wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.70,0:05:58.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're going to end up with the same five revolutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.13,0:06:01.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because first you have the 1960s and 1970s,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.63,0:06:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cultural and social revolution,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.50,0:06:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which in a certain way destroyed the idea of a collective purpose.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.06,0:06:11.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The very idea, all these collective nouns that we have been taught about --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.90,0:06:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nation, class, family.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.70,0:06:17.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We start to like divorcing, if we're married at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.18,0:06:20.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All this was very much under attack.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.53,0:06:24.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it is so difficult to engage people in politics
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.88,0:06:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they believe that what really matters
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.58,0:06:29.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is where they personally stand.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.75,0:06:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you have the market revolution of the 1980s
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.50,0:06:39.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the huge increase of inequality in societies.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.46,0:06:41.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Remember, until the 1970s,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.37,0:06:45.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the spread of democracy has always been accompanied
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.11,0:06:48.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the decline of inequality.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.57,0:06:50.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The more democratic our societies have been,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.73,0:06:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more equal they have been becoming.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.76,0:06:57.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now we have the reverse tendency.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.10,0:06:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The spread of democracy now is very much accompanied
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.80,0:07:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the increase in inequality.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.68,0:07:04.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I find this very much disturbing
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.92,0:07:08.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we're talking about what's going on right and wrong
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.86,0:07:10.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with democracy these days.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.75,0:07:12.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you go to 1989 --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.75,0:07:16.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that basically you don't expect that anybody's going to criticize --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.26,0:07:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but many are going to tell you, "Listen, it was the end of the Cold War
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.22,0:07:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that tore the social contract between the elites and the people in Western Europe."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.52,0:07:27.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the Soviet Union was still there,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.43,0:07:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the rich and the powerful, they needed the people,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.82,0:07:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they feared them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.10,0:07:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now the elites basically have been liberated.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.40,0:07:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're very mobile. You cannot tax them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.56,0:07:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And basically they don't fear the people.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.90,0:07:43.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as a result of it, you have this very strange situation
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.92,0:07:48.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which the elites basically got out of the control of the voters.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.43,0:07:49.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is not by accident
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.93,0:07:52.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the voters are not interested to vote anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.92,0:07:55.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we talk about the Internet,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.03,0:07:57.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yes, it's true, the Internet connected all of us,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.53,0:08:04.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we also know that the Internet created these echo chambers and political ghettos
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.22,0:08:09.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which for all your life you can stay with the political community you belong to.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.32,0:08:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's becoming more and more difficult
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.25,0:08:14.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand the people who are not like you.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.02,0:08:15.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that many people here
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.88,0:08:20.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been splendidly speaking about the digital world and the possibility for cooperation,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.65,0:08:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but [have you] seen what the digital world has done to American politics these days?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.68,0:08:28.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is also partly a result of the Internet revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.53,0:08:31.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the other side of the things that we like.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.20,0:08:33.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you go to the brain sciences,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.22,0:08:37.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what political consultants learned from the brain scientists
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.58,0:08:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is don't talk to me about ideas anymore,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.94,0:08:43.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't talk to me about policy programs.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.20,0:08:48.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What really matters is basically to manipulate the emotions of the people.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.97,0:08:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you have this very strongly
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.03,0:08:55.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the extent that, even if you see when we talk about revolutions these days,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.44,0:09:01.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these revolutions are not named anymore around ideologies or ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.43,0:09:03.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before, revolutions used to have ideological names.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.90,0:09:05.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They could be communist, they could be liberal,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.83,0:09:07.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they could be fascist or Islamic.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.62,0:09:11.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now the revolutions are called under the medium which is most used.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.87,0:09:15.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have Facebook revolutions, Twitter revolutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.00,0:09:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The content doesn't matter anymore, the problem is the media.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.40,0:09:21.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm saying this because one of my major points
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.94,0:09:26.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is what went right is also what went wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.73,0:09:30.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we're now trying to see how we can change the situation,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.47,0:09:33.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when basically we're trying to see what can be done about democracy,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.42,0:09:35.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we should keep this ambiguity in mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.98,0:09:39.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because probably some of the things that we love most
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.00,0:09:42.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are going to be also the things that can hurt us most.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.20,0:09:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These days it's very popular to believe
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.39,0:09:47.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this push for transparency,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.70,0:09:54.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this kind of a combination between active citizens, new technologies
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.08,0:09:57.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and much more transparency-friendly legislation
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.75,0:10:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can restore trust in politics.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.82,0:10:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You believe that when you have these new technologies and people who are ready to use this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.50,0:10:08.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it can make it much more difficult for the governments to lie,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.18,0:10:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's going to be more difficult for them to steal
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.70,0:10:14.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and probably even going to be more difficult for them to kill.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.38,0:10:16.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is probably true.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.40,0:10:19.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I do believe that we should be also very clear
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.45,0:10:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that now when we put the transparency at the center of politics
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.72,0:10:28.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the message is, "It's transparency, stupid."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.32,0:10:31.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Transparency is not about restoring trust in institutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.90,0:10:36.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Transparency is politics' management of mistrust.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.62,0:10:41.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are assuming that our societies are going to be based on mistrust.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.15,0:10:43.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And by the way, mistrust was always very important for democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.98,0:10:46.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is why you have checks and balances.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.12,0:10:50.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is why basically you have all this creative mistrust
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.27,0:10:53.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the representatives and those whom they represent.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.35,0:10:58.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when politics is only management of mistrust,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.25,0:11:01.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then -- I'm very glad that "1984" has been mentioned --
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.33,0:11:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,now we're going to have "1984" in reverse.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.08,0:11:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not going to be the Big Brother watching you,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.20,0:11:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's going to be we being the Big Brother
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.50,0:11:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,watching the political class.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.25,0:11:14.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But is this the idea of a free society?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.87,0:11:16.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, can you imagine
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.40,0:11:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that decent, civic, talented people are going to run for office
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.52,0:11:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they really do believe
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.30,0:11:28.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that politics is also about managing mistrust?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.10,0:11:31.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you not afraid with all these technologies
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.13,0:11:33.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are going to track down
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.13,0:11:36.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,any statement the politicians are going to make on certain issues,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.75,0:11:40.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are you not afraid that this is going to be a very strong signal to politicians
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.62,0:11:45.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to repeat their positions, even the very wrong positions,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.25,0:11:49.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because consistency is going to be more important than common sense?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.27,0:11:50.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Americans who are in the room,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.95,0:11:54.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are you not afraid that your presidents are going to govern
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.00,0:11:57.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the basis of what they said in the primary elections?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.38,0:11:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I find this extremely important,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.37,0:12:03.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because democracy is about people changing their views
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.40,0:12:06.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,based on rational arguments and discussions.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.55,0:12:10.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we can lose this with the very noble idea
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.03,0:12:12.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to keep people accountable
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.05,0:12:14.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for showing the people that we're not going to tolerate
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.67,0:12:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,politicians the opportunism in politics.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.38,0:12:19.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for me this is extremely important.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.72,0:12:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I do believe that when we're discussing politics these days,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.98,0:12:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably it makes sense
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.18,0:12:28.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to look also at this type of a story.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.58,0:12:32.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But also don't forget, any unveiling is also veiling.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.13,0:12:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Regardless of] how transparent our governments want to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.90,0:12:38.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're going to be selectively transparent.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.30,0:12:40.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a small country that could be my country,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.33,0:12:41.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but could be also your country,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.77,0:12:43.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they took a decision -- it is a real case story --
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.95,0:12:46.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all of the governmental decisions,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.57,0:12:49.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,discussions of the council of ministers,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.13,0:12:52.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were going to be published on the Internet
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.43,0:12:56.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,24 hours after the council discussions took place.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.83,0:12:59.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the public was extremely all for it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.00,0:13:01.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I had the opportunity to talk to the prime minister,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.45,0:13:03.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why he made this decision.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.05,0:13:04.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "Listen, this is the best way
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.77,0:13:09.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to keep the mouths of my ministers closed.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.39,0:13:12.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because it's going to be very difficult for them to dissent
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.48,0:13:14.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knowing that 24 hours after
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.66,0:13:16.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is going to be on the public space,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.56,0:13:20.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is in a certain way going to be a political crisis."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.51,0:13:21.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when we talk about transparency,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.98,0:13:23.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we talk about openness,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.58,0:13:25.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I really do believe that what we should keep in mind
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.69,0:13:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that what went right is what went wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.44,0:13:33.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is Goethe, who is neither Bulgarian nor a political scientist,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.63,0:13:36.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some centuries ago he said,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.11,0:13:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"There is a big shadow where there is much light."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.45,0:13:40.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.98,0:13:42.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)