10 Questions: José Carlos Alvarez - Director of the National Museum of Theatre (Portugal)

Who would you vote for as the president of the world?

I find the very concept of a World President deeply anti-democratic.
It makes no sense at all. We can speak of great world leaders, but never of a World President. That idea, as I said, is deeply anti-democratic.

Can terrorism destroy democracy?
I believe terrorism is one of the most dangerous evils, so to speak, of contemporary societies. Terrorism is indeed a great enemy of democracy and democratic states, because terrorism implies fanaticism. It implies totalitarian thought, which in itself opposes democratic thought. Not to mention all the other obvious risks.

What is wrong with democracy?
I think that economic power always rules the world. Economic power is usually linked to military power. It's hard to say who rules the world now. The USA are still the main power. There's much talk of emerging nations, the so-called "BRIC": Brazil, Russia, India and China, which are growing because of their economic power. I think world power will always go hand in hand with economic power.

Why bother to vote?
Voting is a civic action. It's an essential instrument of democracies and democratic regimes. By voting, citizens take part in the country's public and political life, and decide or help to choose who
will manage their country's interests. Hence, it's an essential instrument and a major part of civic life.

Are women more democratic than men?

That is a complex question. I believe women have the same ability as men to be leaders, and likewise, their ability may also turn into an authoritarian attitude. I could give examples of totalitarian regimes led by men or by women. Obviously, men have been predominant, since historically they've dominated in every way - badly, in my view - but it's hard to say. I think the question hardly makes sense.

Is God democratic?
Curiously, the idea of God's demise in Western philosophy was heralded by the advent of democracies in the West, in Western culture. The concept of God, or of the different gods that may exist,
is always a totalitarian concept. The mere fact of saying that God may not be questioned or basing things on dogma, and I don't mean the Catholic God only; I mean any God, Muslim and all, it's always a totalitarian concept, He that is everywhere,
He that decides what we may or may not do...
Therefore I think it's hardly near what we understand as democratic.
This has nothing to do with religions or with the different forms
religions take on, regardless of such forms becoming democratic or not. This usually bears on other issues.

What would make you to start a revolution?
Several things. One would be fighting a totalitarian regime, a regime deeply anti-democratic or violently anti-democratic. That might lead - in fact did lead - perhaps not me but many people, even in our country, to start a revolution.

Are dictators ever good?
It's hard to believe any dictatorship may ever be justified. This brings to mind occasional enquiries about the death penalty, or about extreme or violent situations inflicted on human beings.
Anyway, I admit that in very remote and vague war situations, between 2 or 3 countries, a stronger regime may be needed momentarily, that it may be a justifiable necessity. But having democratic roots, I find it hard to see it as a close reality.

Can democracy solve the climate change?
I believe so. One major problem of contemporary societies, along with terrorism, is the environment problem. It can be solved, in societies where democracy is not limited to voting periodically,
but a much wider, more encompassing concept, including respect for others, and respect for the future. From that point of view, I do believe democracies are more environment friendly than totalitarian regimes. This became clear in practice, seeing what Eastern Bloc regimes did to the environment, and the environment problems
they caused for years.