MarleneEngelhorn

From Democracy in Question? by Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

June 10, 2026 · 43 min · Season 11 · Episode 10

About this episode

Shalini Randeria interviews Marlene Engelhorn about the implications of inherited wealth on democracy and societal structures.

In this episode of Democracy in Question, Shalini Randeria speaks with Austrian-German activist and philanthropist Marlene Engelhorn about inherited wealth, democratic legitimacy, and the concentration of power in contemporary societies. Engelhorn explains why inheriting a vast fortune made her uncomfortable, arguing that wealth acquired by birth rather than merit represents a fundamental democratic injustice. She discusses her involvement in the Tax Me Now initiative, which calls for stronger taxation of large fortunes and inheritances, and reflects on how the super-rich are socialized to view their privilege as normal while often overlooking the societal structures that sustain their wealth.

People in this episode

Host: Shalini Randeria

Guest: Marlene Engelhorn

Topics covered

inherited wealth
democratic legitimacy
concentration of power
taxation
social justice

Keywords

inherited wealth
democracy
taxation
social justice
power concentration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tax Me Now