Rethinking liberal democracy: prelude to totalitarianism

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

In the long course of human evolution and political experimentation, liberal democracy, especially after the events of 1989, has come to be seen as the best political system. In fact, we seemed to have reached the only system compatible with liberty, after the dreadful experiences of Communist and Nazi totalitarianism, and its twin in the economic realm - capitalism. But is liberalism really conducive to freedom? I argue that evil - or totalitarianism - arises from the combination of both the Platonic and Augustinian views: ignorance of values and the pursuit of one’s egotistic desires. Evil has an essentially private nature. In this sense, totalitarianism may arise from a utilitarian culture that sees people - or some forms of knowledge - as worthless and disposable objects.

Object Details

• ISSN: 1857-9760
• Extent: Seite(n): 9-18
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, 1(1)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Politikwissenschaft ; Allgemeines, spezielle Theorien und Schulen, Methoden, Entwicklung und Geschichte der Politikwissenschaft ; Demokratie ; Liberalismus ; politisches System ; Freiheit ; Wertorientierung ; Totalitarismus ; Utilitarismus

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): David, Isabel
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (when): 2015

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-430997
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST