Democracy developed as a way for people to make decisions about how things could be organised so that they would have the chance to thrive.

Democracy once involved members of a community sitting and talking under a tree. It has come to mean thousands and millions electing individuals to represent their views and interest. Political parties evolved as ways of giving people with broadly similar perspectives the opportunity to participate in shaping policy with these sorts of systems.

But the social groupings that gave parties their identities have become more fluid; our definitions of who we are have become more individualistic; our ideas of what we want to become more diverse.

Parties have become machines for winning power  They do this by marketing themselves to differentiated sections of society. This has created openings for those with resources – whether they are wealthy individuals, large corporations, malign actors or foreign states – to to pursue their interests by manipulating Our Democracy.

Politicians still tell us that they are listening to the people. Citizens still long to make the world a better place. Our Democracy gives them only the residual power to protest and complain.