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Authenticity
Authenticity is the quality of living in accordance with one’s own genuine self, values, and commitments rather than conforming to external pressures, social conventions, or the expectations of others. In existentialist philosophy (Heidegger, Sartre, Kierkegaard), authenticity involves confronting the anxiety of radical freedom and taking full responsibility for one’s choices and identity.
Participatory democracy
Participatory democracy is a model of democracy that emphasises active citizen engagement in political deliberation and decision-making, going beyond the mere periodic election of representatives to include ongoing participation in public forums, community organisations, and civic institutions.
Soft despotism
Soft despotism, a concept articulated by Tocqueville and echoed in Taylor's work, describes a form of government that, while not overtly tyrannical, infantilises citizens by managing every detail of their lives. Lao Tzu's critique of interventionist governance anticipates this concern by arguing that excessive government control produces dependence rather than flourishing.