Democracy in Our Time: Mindful Democracy and a Declaration of Interdependence

Democracy is often framed as a contest between political candidates or parties competing for power. But it can also be understood as a shared system of self-governance—one in which everyone has a stake in protecting and sustaining it. In this month’s Democracy in Our Time program, we’ll listen to and discuss a podcast conversation with Jeremy David Engels about his book, On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World. Engels explores the idea of “mindful democracy,” drawing on democratic theory as well as practices like yoga, meditation, and Buddhism. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, Engels invites us to consider the idea of a “declaration of interdependence” and what it might mean for civic life today. The conversation also touches on different visions of democracy from thinkers such as John Dewey and Walter Lippmann. Listen to the podcast at this link: https://www.democracyworkspodcast.com/episodes/jeremy-david-engels