IT IS A COMMONPLACE expectation that newly established social and political institutions somehow accumulate a deepening stability with the passage of time.
What do you think of the distinction between democracy and "demotism"? The first is just a standard multi-party system that regularly convenes elections. The second is the idea that almost all governments since the 20th century justify their rule by through political formula of "rule by the people". In this sense many non-western "non-democratic" regimes like Russia, NK, China etc etc may have rigged elections even though it's obvious who is in power.
I think this is important since even if Western style democracy is increasingly under scrutiny, the question is what is the imagined alternative? In the minds of most people its just more obviously corrupt governments that rig ballots, are naked kleptocracies, but still justify themselves in democratic terms.
The question as to what comes after mass-democracy is too big a question, however, you’re absolutely correct that basically all countries justify themselves in democratic ways and also the majority of people in those countries consider their counties to be democratic, very strange situation.
Great piece, I look forward to more.
What do you think of the distinction between democracy and "demotism"? The first is just a standard multi-party system that regularly convenes elections. The second is the idea that almost all governments since the 20th century justify their rule by through political formula of "rule by the people". In this sense many non-western "non-democratic" regimes like Russia, NK, China etc etc may have rigged elections even though it's obvious who is in power.
I think this is important since even if Western style democracy is increasingly under scrutiny, the question is what is the imagined alternative? In the minds of most people its just more obviously corrupt governments that rig ballots, are naked kleptocracies, but still justify themselves in democratic terms.
The question as to what comes after mass-democracy is too big a question, however, you’re absolutely correct that basically all countries justify themselves in democratic ways and also the majority of people in those countries consider their counties to be democratic, very strange situation.