What’s going on? Criticising the occult of Democracy has suddenly gone mainstream?
Just within the past few weeks, I’ve read, with utter disbelief, first in The Economist, then The Washington Post, warnings that Democracy could collapse unless reformed. Even Professor Francis Fukuyama, writer of “The End of History and the Last Man” who declared liberal democracy to be the ultimate political model of mankind, has joined rank. It’s like witnessing the Vatican expressing doubt over the Genesis.
I’ve listed the links of these incredible but excellent essays, plus a couple of my old blasphemous pieces which questioned the viability of Democracy, especially when coupled with extreme capitalism and mass petulance. Hey, these “eccentric and cynical” views are now kinda mainstream! I still find it difficult to take in, and wonder what the catch is. . .
IN RESPECTABLE AND PREDICTABLE MEDIA
1) Democracy in Trouble? (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/news/essays/21596796-democracy-was-most-successful-political-idea-20th-century-why-has-it-run-trouble-and-what-can-be-do
2) American Democracy Headed to Extinction (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-american-democracy-headed-to-extinction/2014/03/28/f8084fbe-aa34-11e3-b61e-8051b8b52d06_story.html
3) 弗朗西斯·福山：美国政治制度结构特征的问题
http://www.guancha.cn/fu-lang-xi-si-fu-shan/2014_04_08_220260.shtml
A COUPLE OF MY OLD PIECES
4) Democracy Mission — A Conspiracy Theory
http://guo-du.blogspot.hk/2011/02/democracy-mission-conspiracy-theory.html
5) Democracy Debate and Chinaman’s House (a satirical flash fiction)
http://guo-du.blogspot.hk/2012/11/democracy-debate-and-chinamans-house.html
ersim says
It’s not the first time Western style “democracy” is in a “crisis”(more like a FAILURE). The last time was in the 1930’s.
Sleeper says
Well I surely hope they do question and learn something meaningful. But according to history, they seldom did so, instead, they always converted such “crisis” into other people’ misery.
Guo Du says
@Sleeper
If their system is indeed inherently faulty in the long run, as it appears to be, and not just wicked, it would fail to provide the minimum level of political competence needed to cause trouble and dispense misery at some point. That’s why China’s reemergence is so “threatening” to them. It provides a viable alternative that they can no longer ignore.
Machiavellianism says
Here is from Helmut Schmidt, the former German Chancellor, he said “I Would Not Sell Democracy To The Chinese“.
Germans, finally heading EU today, knows a thing or two about empire building after two failed tries.
Guo Du says
@Machiavellianism Oh thanks for the link Machiavellianism. I forwarded it to a friend who responded with an imaginary dialogue that’s quite interesting. I’ve shared it on this blog.