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Nightmares of authoritarian rule rear up in response to governments that seem too strong or too weak. But democracy is always at risk. Any leader might simply refuse to give up power. A fascist party might be set up tomorrow, and go on to win an election.

Over the last few years, polling has suggested that young adults have grown disillusioned with democracy, and that a surprising proportion would be open to the idea of a strong leader who didn’t have to bother with parliament, or even to military rule.

In this second episode, Phil Tinline and public policy research group ‘Public First’ convene a war game in the East Midlands. Phil invites nine young adults to form a fictional Cabinet. Then he tests out how they respond to an escalating series of scenarios, drawing on real events, which put democracy under ever greater pressure. Under what circumstances, if any, would they deploy the military, or declare a state of emergency? Would our Cabinet allow serving army officers into government?

With thanks to all our candidates and to James Frayne of ‘Public First’ for moderating the session.

Producer: Sarah Shebbeare