Amartya Sen on authoritarianism and arguing

The economist, philosopher, and Nobel Laureate on the importance of disagreement to democracy

For the first time in my life, the question of whether the United States will undergo a peaceful democratic transition of power is under active discussion. Nobody knows; everybody waits. I have found it hard to write, hard to get work done. Because it is hard to sow plans not knowing whether they are to flower on earth or in hell.

When you are living thr…