From Western liberal democracies to China’s “people’s democracy,” almost everyone claims to be democratic. Even Putin holds elections. “Undemocratic” is an effective insult to hurl at any opponent. But there are radically different visions of democracy. The Chinese Communist Party argues that only the iron discipline of a single party can defend the common will of the people, and that its local elections allow communities to replace underperforming officials. Yet in the West, ideological competition between parties is seen as core to democracy—though critics argue that there is little real ideological difference between dominant parties. Meanwhile, some see populism as a democratic fightback against elites, while others call it anti-democratic. Increasingly, we can’t agree on what democracy is, or even whether it’s the best form of government.

Rather than equating good government with democracy, should we instead ask whether governments are improving living standards? Is it time to drop the term “democracy,” and talk instead about more concrete ideas, such as elections and wealth redistribution? Or is democracy still our best weapon against tyranny?