Demokracja jako ideologia

Abstract

The paper tries to show that almost all philosophers appreciative of democracy (Aristotle, Montesquieu, J.I Rousseau, J. St. Mill, J. Schumpeter) were convinced that commoners were not fit to wield political power. Democracy was treated by them as an instrument to keep commoners in peace and dependence. The necessary condition for a good democracy was the rule of elite, understood as a group of people superior to others because of their moral standing, intelligence or wealth. The authors proposed various methods and procedures for assuring the political power of elites, viz. more votes for the educated and wealthy (J. St. Mill), different political rights for the poor and rich (Aristotle), the passive rights for the patriotic class of society only (Montesquieu, Rousseau), or the recognition (to be persuaded) of the privileged status of ideological elites (Schumpeter). The idea of democracy was conceived as an ideology useful for the dominant elites. Ideological elites should govern behind a façade of democratic politics through deceit and cunning. For last forty years the left liberal elites have succeeded in disguising their having ruled in the Western Europe and the USA. In 2016, the political scene in the USA changed and the conservative elite, centered in the community (populists) started to rule. Thus, commoners are still in democracy but an object for populists.