Historians Predicted the Failure of Democracy (2019)
Historian Lawrence Torcello connects Plato's warnings about democracy leading to tyranny with modern populism, emphasizing the need for safeguards against manipulation and instability in contemporary democratic systems.
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Historian Lawrence Torcello discusses the historical predictions regarding the failure of democracy, tracing back to Plato's insights around 380 B.C. Plato warned that democracy could lead to tyranny, a notion that resonates in today's political climate where populism and anti-elite sentiments are rising in various democratic nations, including Turkey, the U.K., Hungary, Brazil, and the U.S. He highlights that the weakening of liberal constraints on democracy, which traditionally protect individual rights against the majority's whims, is concerning. The article reflects on the Athenian democracy, where rhetoric often overshadowed factual discourse, allowing demagogues to manipulate public opinion through emotional appeals. Thucydides' account of Pericles illustrates how leaders could sway the populace by instilling fear or restoring confidence, leading to a form of governance that, while democratic in name, was effectively controlled by a singular influential figure. This manipulation resulted in instability and violence, reinforcing Socrates' critique of Athenian democracy for prioritizing popular opinion over truth. Ultimately, Torcello connects these historical lessons to contemporary challenges faced by democracies, emphasizing the need for safeguards against the potential descent into tyranny.
- Plato predicted that democracy could lead to tyranny, a concern echoed in modern politics.
- Rising populism in democracies indicates weakening liberal constraints on individual rights.
- Athenian democracy was characterized by emotional rhetoric rather than factual discourse.
- Historical manipulation of public opinion by leaders can lead to instability and violence.
- Safeguards are necessary to prevent the descent into tyranny in contemporary democracies.
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2 commentsThe Romans tried it, and it ended in tyranny and the collapse of their civilization.
The Americans tried it, and it’s ended in tyranny and the collapse of their civilization.
The fact that the body hasn’t yet figured out that it’s been shot in the head, now twice, isn’t hard to understand, given that the brain stopped sending reliable signals after it was blown out the first time.
Try something once, and it’s an experiment. Try something twice, get the same result, and it’s a trend. Try something three times, expecting a different result, and you’ve reached a popular definition of insanity.
Republican democracy clearly doesn’t, and likely can’t, work over the long term… we, as a species, need to, very carefully, rethink.
If we get the opportunity.
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