Is democracy necessary for sustainable development — or does it get in the way? Sadly, it’s easy to argue either view. In the US, the vibrant presidential competition between Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama has engaged citizens in debating some of today’s great issues. It has underscored both the extent to which democratic processes can surface uncomfortable truths about candidates and—as all three campaigns publicly embraced the climate change agenda—the potential for democracy to outflank government administrations or regimes that are blind to new realities.

Read the article in Portugese.