10 Questions: Henry Porter - Novelist and political commentator (UK)

Who would you vote for as President of the World?

I’d probably think out of the box and say Seamus Heaney, or somebody who hasn’t been a leader but has an obvious humanity and sense of commitment, peace, and liberty. Al Gore would make a good President of the World. His attention is fixed on the great environmental crisis which faces us all. I think he has a good handle on the issues which really confront us.

Can terrorism destroy democracy?
No, I think it’s very important that we put terrorism in its box. The 7th July bombs in London were of critical importance but we allowed ourselves to believe that the terror presented by these people required introducing new laws which went against our democratic grain. We sacrificed Britain’s historic struggles for democracy and the traditions of liberty.

Who rules the world?
Money rules the world. I think that capitalism is a broadly good system as long as it copes with the people that it leaves behind, which is what’s missing at the moment. Capitalism tends to work better in a democracy and tends to guarantee a democracy, but only at the most basic level.

Why bother to vote?
I think the really crucial thing for people to understand is that democratic systems do not guarantee liberty. People use liberty and democracy as somehow synonymous but they’re not. The problem is that the general public is not engaged in politics – it’s not just about voting – it’s about having an informed opinion. People should be involved in politics more than once every four years.

Are women more democratic than men?
I don’t think that democracy has a particular gender character. If you look at the fight for democracy through British history, you will see that it’s a succession of men and only latterly involved women, and that’s because women didn’t have the influence.

Is God democratic?
I think if God existed he would believe that the greatest amount of responsibility should be placed with the individual and that state control removes an individual’s moral choices and responsibilities. So if I believed in God, I would say that he favoured democracy.

What would make you start a revolution?
The single issue that would make me rise up would be the continued attack on British liberty and our tradition of rights. I’m not a violent person and I don’t believe in violence, but I certainly think that we’ll soon be a stage where we really do have to fight to retain the liberties that our forbears struggled for.

Are dictators ever good?
No, dictators are not good. Too much power in one individual’s hands is undesirable for the general population. There’s never been such a thing as a benign dictator. I’m such a strong believer in democracy, in the liberty of the individual; I could never believe in good dictatorship.

Can democracy solve climate change?
I think it has to. I don’t think governments are good at these things. It sounds pompous, but it’s a matter of personal morality. The single unit which counts most in any democracy is an individuals’ moral conscience. Sooner or later the penny will drop and we will realise that we simply have to waste less, use less power and consider our actions more deeply.