Why I Don't Applaud Democracy

Everyone seems to applaud Democracy, and Western governments expend a lot of financial and military and cultural effort trying to foist it on non-Western cultures. Democracy is treated as one of a most basic universal Good. But is it?

I'm not supporting autocracy, oligarchy, or whatever. I just think that (as someone said) "Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the rest" - and I am focusing here on why it is "worst".

I question the presupposition of the absolute goodness of Democracy. Reasons why I do so include:

Democracy is the minority. We in the West fail to remember that WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic) cultures are the minority. Why should the minority rule over the majority? [Note: I1]
Democracy makes politicians cowards. The democratic form of government practised in the West, whereby aspiring politicians and political parties put themselves up for election, means that none have the courage to really tackle the pressing problems like climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss, poverty in poorer nations, etc. Because they fear would not get into power if they did so.
Democracy is rule by the media - that is, in reality in Western cultures, whatever political theory says. It is the media that influences people and persuades people which way to vote. And it is the media that keeps Western people resistant to taking courageous, self-giving, responsible action.

Notes:

Note I1. Inconsistency 1. Why should the minority foist itself on the majority? Ironically, is that not anti-democratic?

Part of a collection of points for discussion, especially revealing 'elephants in the room'.

Created: 24 Sep 2021. Last updated: 5 April 2025 canon, this ending, link to index.