That is what Erik Solheim tells Oagal. Solheim heads the Europe–Asia Center in Brussels and is a member of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). CCICED advises Chinese authorities on environmental, development, and climate issues. Previously, he has among other roles led the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and served as a cabinet minister and politician for the Socialist Left Party (SV).

Solheim’s passionate commitment to environmental issues has taken him around the world. This year alone it has included a couple of dozen visits to China and India—and France. Through his travels, he views Norwegian and international democracy from a new perspective.

Multiple functioning systems of governance

“Hardly anyone in Western countries doubts that our democratic model is the best form of governance. In the same way, people in China, India, and other countries believe their models have advantages. While the West still has an unfortunate imperialist tendency to try to impose its solutions on others, this does not happen to the same extent in the opposite direction,” Solheim says.

Democracy as a system of governance has created enormous progress over a couple of hundred years in modern times. Now it is slowing down.

“Western democracy is being challenged by the Chinese model, which delivers better environmental solutions, faster economic growth, superior infrastructure, and more modern cities. The answer to this challenge is not constant criticism of China, but improving our own model so that it delivers for people,” he says.

“I will continue to talk about positive developments in China, even if it irritates some.”

Western democracy is being challenged by the Chinese model, which delivers better environmental solutions, faster economic growth, superior infrastructure, and more modern cities.

Erik Solheim

Failure to deliver undermines trust in democracy

Solheim says that trust in democratic systems is steadily weakened by a lack of delivery combined with rising costs.

“Many people vote for the politicians they dislike the least rather than for representatives they genuinely want. On the very day the United States elected Trump, a clear majority of Americans said they did not like the man.”

He notes that Asian leaders such as India’s Prime Minister Modi are very popular at home, but that this does not resonate strongly with European publics.

“The way democracy functions today is not sustainable over time. Democracy must deliver better for citizens. Then politicians will be respected. Today, hardly any leaders in Europe are re-elected.”

Read also: We must respond to declining trust in democracy with more democracy, write five members of parliament in their justification for a constitutional proposal.

Civic participation suffers from lack of knowledge

Solheim has a fundamental belief in citizen participation. He argues that the lack of knowledge and experience among politicians and public administrations is the reason progress has stalled in this area.

“Politicians are uncertain about what people might end up thinking and therefore avoid direct-democratic instruments. There is also an established perception that citizen participation will lead to even slower processes and poorer decisions.”

Politicians are uncertain about what people might think and therefore avoid direct-democratic instruments. There is an established perception that citizen participation leads to even slower processes and poorer decisions.

Enjoyable to follow the citizens’ assemblies in Belgium

Oagal meets him at St. Hanshaugen, in a home with shelves full of biographies and books on politics, the environment, and history.

One book he is currently working through is Revolusi by David van Reybrouck. The Belgian cultural historian and author was appointed Arne Næss Professor in 2024. According to the news outlet Uniforum, Reybrouck is best known for the essay “Against Elections: The Case for Democracy.” In it, he argues that today’s democracy—with parliamentary elections and representatives from political parties—is in the process of eroding and wearing voters down.

“Belgium is experimenting with the establishment of citizens’ councils and assemblies as part of governing the country. It’s fascinating to follow. Reybrouck is part of this, and the country is showing new paths for popular rule at a time when traditional forms are not delivering,” Solheim says.

Read more: East Belgium’s parliament establishes permanent citizen dialogue, with Reybrouck among the sources of inspiration.

Christian Sømme

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Christian Sømme er Oagals redaktør og demokratiaktivist. Overalt i Norge og internasjonalt møter han mennesker som ikke kan assosiere seg med og føler maktesløshet overfor beslutningene til politikere, offentlig administrasjon og domstoler. Han har etablert Oagal som en uavhengig mediekanal for å dekke disse problemstillingene, oppsummert som «reelt demokrati». Sømme har vært tillitsmann, by- og stedsutviklingsaktivist i en mannsalder, og demokratiaktivist som Medvirkningsombudet (selvutnevnt) fra 2018 og med Oagal fra 2024. (Foto: Thomas Eckhoff)

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