"Democracy on the Brink of an Abyss": A New Philosophy Book by Haim Fadida

A new philosophy book on the shelf, "Democracy on the Brink of an Abyss", by Haim Fadida, published by Yanai Publishing.

When analyst and thinker Haim Fadida immigrated from Morocco, he realized that life is not just about obeying authority—that there is room for freedom of thought and speech, fueled by years of rational thinking and a strong love for the freedom that democracy enables. In a new philosophy book, he examines the failures of modern democracy and proposes "Sovereign Democracy," a new governing model where the public holds more power! The ongoing political crisis, frequent elections, rising corruption, and a sense of losing direction are not inevitable—they are the result of a "bug" in the state's operating system.

A Surprising Thesis: In his new philosophy book, "Democracy on the Brink of an Abyss," Haim Fadida presents a surprising thesis: the problem is not the politicians, but the "recipe" that repeatedly produces them. Fadida, a computer specialist and analyst, approaches Israel's burning issues—from draft exemptions to the cost of living—not as a political commentator, but as a systems designer. Through logical analysis, he reveals how the current system suffers from an inherent conflict of interest (such as MKs supervising themselves), yields to coalition tyranny, and distorts the will of the voter through laws like "Bader-Ofer" and the electoral threshold.

The Message: No longer Right and Left, but Center versus the Margins. Contrary to common discourse, the real divide is not ideological but structural: the sane Center versus the extremist margins. The solution proposed in the book is "Sovereign Democracy," a new governing model that includes:

• Establishment of the "Sovereign Council": A supreme body of 7 members ("Sovereigns") where one new sovereign is appointed annually to replace the most senior member. This body is free from partisan interests, tasked with managing the state from the highest position, and is accountable only to the public.

• The "Positive and Negative" Method: An innovative voting mechanism that allows the public not only to choose who they want but also to mark ("minus") those they reject. This method neutralizes extremists with a small "base" and ensures leadership from the unifying center.

• Eliminating the tyranny of the minority, while implementing the "Sieve Rule" to neutralize interest groups in votes on state laws, preventing a situation where a minority imposes its will on the majority through "built-in bribery."

Haim Fadida: A native of Morocco who immigrated to Israel as a child and was exposed to the gap between obedience to authority and freedom of thought. In the book, he combines the worlds of logic, computers, and political philosophy. The book avoids slogans and offers a practical toolbox for building a stable, transparent, and moral democracy.

Democracy on the Brink of an Abyss | By: Haim Fadida | Yanai Publishing | Editing: Hagar Yanai | 304 pages | Price: 107 NIS | Cover Design: Einat Perlman-Rogel | Available in bookstores and chains!

(Photo: Shosh Lahav)