It seems the more we know about how democracy works -- through government transparency, better media coverage, even new insights about our brains -- the less we trust democracy itself. Yet it's still, arguably, the best system of government available. As Ivan Krastev says, "What went right is also what went wrong." Can democracy survive?

From his home base in Bulgaria, Ivan Krastev thinks about democracy -- and how to reframe it.

Big-picture talks about global politics and the shifting weight of the world.

What's going wrong with democracy? Iavan Krastev is a political scientist to speak about crisis in Europe. Not, in his words, an inspiring topic. And he's here to talk about some of the problems with openness, in contrast to most of the talks. "You people in the church of TED," says Krastev, "are very optimistic. You believe in complexity...

Rory Stewart opens this talk from TEDxHousesofParliament with a joke: “Little Billy goes to school and his teacher asks, ‘What does your father do?’ Billy replies, ‘My father plays piano in an opium den.’” But when the teacher confronts the father about his occupation, she gets a different answer. As Stewart finishes the joke, “The fathe...

. Political theorist Ivan Krastev believes that we are witnessing a “crisis of democracy.” There appears to be little dissent in Europe or the United States about whether democracy is the best form of government, Krastev says in a foreboding talk given at TEDGlobal 2012. “Democracy is the only game in town,” says Krastev. “The problem is...

All around the globe, people are feeling increasingly skeptical and mistrustful of their leaders. According to one global trust barometer, only 52% of survey respondents said that they trusted their government to do the right thing in 2011 and, in 2012, the number plummeted to 43%. As recent surveys reveal, only 18% of Italians believe their...

A recent Gallup poll listed the most- and least-trusted professions in America. At the bottom of the list: car salesmen and members of Congress. It’s not hard to understand why our politicians rate so poorly — scandals, myopia, obstinance, party loyalty over common good, fiscal cliffs. All have left voters exasperated and confused. But while con...

Click to watch this session's opening animation Too often, we view "openness" as an unmitigated Good Thing. Yet, as we've seen up close over the past decade or so, transparency comes with consequences. Reality is neither black nor white, and until we can learn to take a nuanced view of the problems with which we are beset, meaningful progre...

About this event: On 27th June, Acorn House is excited to be hosting a simulcast of the second morning of TEDGlobal 2012: Radical Openness, live from Edinburgh. TED is a non profit organisation, devoted to ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’, and was designed to give everyone access to inspiring and unique speeches on a wide range of topics. We join the conversation thro...

On Monday, June 25, the curtain rises on TEDGlobal 2012: Radical Openness. More than 70 speakers -- scientists, artists, technologists, students and visionaries -- will take the TED stage over four days in Edinburgh, Scotland, to explore the intriguing theme of openness of all kinds, in politics, science, art, private life ... We'll be...

Today, we're thrilled to announce the TEDGlobal 2012 speaker lineup -- exploring the theme "Radical Openness." As the world becomes ever more interconnected, the ways we relate, the means by which we learn about one another and develop mutual understanding, and the rules about what we hide and what we share are changing. That's the inspir...

These talks celebrate and break down what it means to live outside society's traditional (and outdated) understanding of gender.

About this event: Join us this Wednesday for the introduction of TED and TEDx to Loughborough with our first event showing an exclusive live webcast of the TEDGlobal 2012 conference in Edinburgh. You're welcome to bring your laptops and iPads along to work on throughout the day while we watch the live show. We'll be using the day as a fantastic opportunity ...

Ivan Krastev’s TED book asks probing and difficult questions about democracy in societies that do not trust their leaders. For example, while Americans cling to the belief that democray represents the highest form of political organization, they also rate members of Congress amongst the least trusted professions. In his book In Mistrust We T...

Kristina je odrasla u SOS dječjem selu i kaže da je sretna što se njezin život baš tako odigrao. U svom TEDxZagreb govoru otkriva kako je njezin život mogao izgledati da nije završila u SOS dječjem selu i zašto su SOS sela, udomiteljske i posvojiteljske obitelji ponekad najbolji odabir za dijete.