[Peace-discuss] Keywords 020220

[David Johnson]

Thanks for posting this Ron,

I would have to disagree with Socrates's view of Democracy as an " unjust " constitution and the absolute order of the transition sequence - There have been many countries throughout history that the sequence was not in that order listed.
And the U.S. has not went through a " democracy "  YET. Only " Timocracy " and currently " Oligarchy ".

David J.


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From: Peace-discuss [mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Szoke, Ron via Peace-discuss
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Subject: [Peace-discuss] Keywords 020220

dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog (dĕm′ə-gôg′, -gŏg′)  n.
1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a political agitator who appeals with crude oratory to the prejudice and passions of the mob
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (esp in the ancient world) any popular political leader or orator
— A person who gains the support of the public by making impassioned speeches that appeal to their emotions and prejudices.
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Socrates discusses four unjust constitutions: timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. [Plato, Republic, books VIII & IX]  He argues that a society will decay and pass through each government in succession, eventually becoming a tyranny, the most unjust regime of all. — online Free Dictionary

So, a sort of natural history of the polity mighty be outlined as: 
  timocracy  =>  oligarchy  =>  democracy  =>  tyranny
>  Are we in this Platonic sequence? Where?  

> Degenerate democracy (populism) => “imperial presidency”  => Caesarism & the rise of “elected dictators,” who claim democratic legitimacy by virtue of once having been elected to some office, thus being “the people’s choice.”  

>  A putative democracy is always vulnerable to the rise of demagogues. 
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Caesarism in Democratic Politics: Reflections on Max Weber
28 Pages Posted: 27 Nov 2007
— Gerhard Casper, Stanford University
Date Written: March 22, 2007
Abstract
Max Weber argued that every mass democracy tends in a caesarist direction. Weber employed the term to stress, inter alia, the plebiscitary character of elections, disdain for parliament, the non-toleration of autonomous powers within the government and a failure to attract or suffer independent political minds. A hundred years ago - even before present-day modes of campaigning, before present-day modes of political fundraising, before television advertising — Weber was of the view that the position of the President of the United States lies on the road to a pure form of caesarist acclamation. After analyzing Weber's views, the paper examines recent trends in American presidential politics.
——
Suggested Citation:
Casper, Gerhard, Caesarism in Democratic Politics: Reflections on Max Weber (March 22, 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1032647 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1032647
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Seeing this reminded me of an essay I wrote over 50 years ago — titled “Weber’s Caesars” -- that was printed in a local off-campus magazine.  I no longer have a copy, cannot locate one, & would no doubt be acutely embarrassed to read it now.  But I will reward appropriately anyone who can locate one for me.  
	~ Ron Szoke
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