Single Idea 7477

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy]

Full Idea

What we regard as democracy in the twenty-first century is actually elective oligarchy.

Gist of Idea

Modern democracy is actually elective oligarchy

Source

Peter Watson (Ideas [2005], Ch.06)

Book Reference

Watson,Peter: 'Ideas: from fire to Freud' [Phoenix 2006], p.171


A Reaction

Even dictatorships want to be called 'democracies'. The modern system is a bit of a concession to Plato, and he would probably have preferred it to his system, because at least the rulers tend to be more educated than the direct assembly.