Hatred of Democracy
Jacques Rancière Verso, 112pp, £12.99
ISBN 1844670988
The French philosopher Jacques Rancière explains that hatred of democracy is nothing new. Indeed, the word "democracy" is itself an expression of contempt that originated in ancient Greece as a reference to mob rule. According to Rancière, today, more than ever, democracy "is bound to attract the hatred of all those who are entitled to govern men by their birth, wealth, or science".
Rancière critiques the political stance in the west that pours scorn on mass protests and popular culture at home, yet promotes the spread of democracy by force throughout the world. No prizes for guessing who might symbolise this stance (George W Bush, perhaps?). But Rancière eschews polemic in order to show the confusion in our political discourse. He challenges what he sees as the widely held view that democratic life is synonymous with "the apolitical life of the indifferent consumer".
This is a demanding read, but the arguments are thought-provoking, especially in the current international political climate. Rancière could develop his ideas further, however – references to conflicts in the Middle East, for example, leave us wondering what consequences a refounding of the concept of democracy would actually have in those cases.
Post this article to
We want to encourage people to comment on our content and to exchange views with other readers and hope this will be done on a courteous basis. However, if you encounter posts which are offensive please let us know by emailing comments@newstatesman.co.uk and we will take swift action where necessary.
