The Danger of Elections

Something rather remarkable took place in italy last week: an election that seemed to grip the attention of a whole nation. Voter turnout was so unexpectedly high — more than 80% of those entitled to cast a ballot did so — that the authorities were unable to cope with the crowds, some of whom wrecked polling stations in their rage. Filipinos, too, have behaved of late as if politics still matters — maybe too much so. The campaign before the recent congressional and local elections was marred by widespread violence, which claimed the lives of around 60 people. It's a far...