The Struggle for Democracy is a Canadian documentary television series, which premiered in 1989.Mark Abley, "Patrick Watson's quest, the search for democracy; Man of ideas embarks upon ambitious TV challenge". Montreal Gazette, December 4, 1988. Hosted by Patrick Watson, the series profiled the birth and evolution of democracy, including both the challenges and the opportunities that lay ahead for it in the future.Tony Atherton, "The Struggle for Democracy; 10-part series rife with Watson's personal convictions". Ottawa Citizen, January 7, 1989.
The series was also paired with a companion book, co-written by Watson and Benjamin Barber, and published by Lester & Orpen Dennys.Henry Mietkiewicz, "Rights to Watson book sold in 6-figure deal". Toronto Star, June 30, 1988.
Production on the series was first announced in 1987, when Watson stepped down as host of the business news series Venture to begin work on the project."Venture host to leave for series on democracy". Ottawa Citizen, January 15, 1987. The series premiered January 8, 1989, airing simultaneously in English on CBC Television and in French on Télévision de Radio-Canada.Warren Gerard, "The Struggle for Democracy". Toronto Star, January 7, 1989. It later aired on PBS in the United States in 1989,Judith Michaelson, "Current Events Overtake PBS Democracy Series". Los Angeles Times, June 23, 1989. and ITV in the United Kingdom in 1990.
The series did face some minor criticism for the fact that due to the rapidly-changing geopolitical climate of the late 1980s, it had been completed too early to cover some noteworthy events at all, including the Tiananmen Square protests and the Soviet Bloc Revolutions of 1989. Following the original ten-episode 1989 series, Watson created a sequel special in 1990, covering the events in China and Eastern Europe.Antonia Zerbisias, "Watson has new look at democracy". Toronto Star, April 5, 1990.
Episodes
Awards
+AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReference Gemini Awards 1989Best Documentary SeriesTed Remerowski"Watson's Struggle for Democracy wins Gemini for best documentary". Montreal Gazette, December 6, 1989.Gordon Sinclair AwardPatrick Watson"Glory Enough for All shines in Gemini technical awards". Montreal Gazette, December 5, 1989.Best Original Music for a Series Micky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon, "The First Freedom""Geminis awarded last night". Montreal Gazette, December 5, 1989.Best Picture Editing in an Information or Documentary Program or Series John Gareau, "Chiefs and Strongmen""This year's TV Gemini nominations". Toronto Star, October 26, 1989.Fred Gauthier, "The Tyranny of the Majority"Sound in an Information or Documentary Program or SeriesIan Challis, Wesley J. Blanchard, Tibor Gyokeres and Paul Massey, "Reborn in America"1990Best Photography in an Information/Documentary Program or SeriesMichael Boland, "The Curtain Rises"
References
External links