The Populist Delusion by Neema Parvini #bookstr
The nature of power in politics and government. The people, majority, does not rule, it is ruled by a minority of organized elites. In democracies the minority is elected.
Populism, rampant today in all societies, claims that the power is returned to the people. The people cannot hold onto power as they are inherently unorganized go into political passivity and thus need elite leadership. Populism appeals to the mass man through emotion and reactivity, but really it’s just theatre organized through elections and public participation by the elite man through strategy.
The real battle is between elite and elite, so if you want change you have to become the elite. Mass sentiment dies out.
Food for thought. I believe populism leaves society worse off. Even if elites use populism to win easy votes are just manipulative and pray on the emotions of people who will be inevitably left even more disappointed. The effect will be even more division and hate in society.
A good median education through society I believe will make populism a tool that no elite can use for gain and thus useless.
