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A short thread on #democracy, despotism and anarchy.
First, it was truly saddening to see the 2020 Presidential election to end in violence and loss of life.
However, I would like to rise some points considering the claims of "undemocraticness" of the civil action. 1/8
First, it was truly saddening to see the 2020 Presidential election to end in violence and loss of life.
However, I would like to rise some points considering the claims of "undemocraticness" of the civil action. 1/8
Prof:s J. Robinson and D. Acemoglu explain the narrow path of democracy in their excellent book: The Narrow Corridor.
Simplified, its message is two-fold.
First, democracy will be taken over by the government (despotism), if people do not provide the 'checks and balances'. 2/
Simplified, its message is two-fold.
First, democracy will be taken over by the government (despotism), if people do not provide the 'checks and balances'. 2/
Second, too much civil action will result to anarchy, a reign through chaos.
History does provide plenty of evidence on both. Where does the line go?
We pretty much know the 'despotic' nations, including China, North Korea and Venezuela. 3/
History does provide plenty of evidence on both. Where does the line go?
We pretty much know the 'despotic' nations, including China, North Korea and Venezuela. 3/
Anarchism tends to exists only briefly and in exceptional circumstances.
Brief periods of 'anarchistic' rule have been seen in Europe (especially after the fall of Soviet Union), Africa and Asia.
But, anarchism is chaos. It's not what we saw yesterday at the Capitol Hill. 4/
Brief periods of 'anarchistic' rule have been seen in Europe (especially after the fall of Soviet Union), Africa and Asia.
But, anarchism is chaos. It's not what we saw yesterday at the Capitol Hill. 4/
It was a show of dissatisfaction on the current political reality in the US.
If the demonstrators would have taken over the Capitol (in interity) then we would have entered a (likely very brief) period of 'anarchic' rule.
We all are probably relieved that it did not happen. 5/
If the demonstrators would have taken over the Capitol (in interity) then we would have entered a (likely very brief) period of 'anarchic' rule.
We all are probably relieved that it did not happen. 5/
The act of so many people presenting their anger in such a radical way cannot, in my opinion, be classified as anything else than an extreme show of democratic rights, and power.
I am not taking any stand on the acts of the President or the claims of a voter fraud. 6/
I am not taking any stand on the acts of the President or the claims of a voter fraud. 6/
However, I am rising the question, what happens to democracy, if those willing to take (fundamentally non-violent) civil action against the injustice they see (consider), are labelled as "domestic terrorists"?
We should all worry about the answer. 7/
We should all worry about the answer. 7/
Non-violence is the principle we all should heed to.
However, extreme action is sometimes needed to maintain the 'checks and balances' in politics.
We may not always like what it yields, but without the possibility of it, we are nothing more than slaves.
/End
However, extreme action is sometimes needed to maintain the 'checks and balances' in politics.
We may not always like what it yields, but without the possibility of it, we are nothing more than slaves.
/End
