How effective is democracy against the relentless assaults of totalitarian passions at the heart of the maelstrom?

When considering the 20th century’s two world wars and the current COVID-19 health crisis, a historian might find many commonalities that encourage reflection amidst our present anxiety, be they the irruption of the unforeseen unsettling our idle tranquillity; emotional distress and courage; selfishness and generosity; spontaneous solidarity and devastating inequalities; the unrelenting contest between rumour and truth; the excesses of the all-powerful market and lifesaving State supervision; endangered freedoms and consenting to exceptional temporary measures.