Single Idea 7976

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

Full Idea

If the people puts itself into the hands of the political class, it does so more to be rid of power than out of any desire for representation.

Gist of Idea

People like democracy because it means they can avoid power

Source

Jean Baudrillard (The Intelligence of Evil [2004], p. 54)

Book Reference

Baudrillard,Jean: 'The Intelligence of Evil or The Lucidity Pact' [Berg 2005], p.54


A Reaction

Very nice. If we are all in the grips of some biological 'will to power', that needn't be power over huge numbers of other people, merely power over our immediate lives. It can be expressed by building a wall.