halldor
03-10-2003, 06:10 AM
"Democracy is the illusion of freedom"
This is a sentiment that is often expressed by the "progressive" left in their opposition to Western representative democracy, which they interpret as an illusionary structure intended to mislead the masses and prevent them from developing a true consciousness of their situation.
Yet in other parts of the world, democracy has been a scarce commodity. For example, 12 years ago in Eastern Europe, people greeted the advent of their freedom almost in disbelief, after decade upon decade of tyranny and intimidation from the Soviet Union. Yet the freedom was real, and so far it has lasted.
Perhaps it's easier for us in the West to cast doubts on the value of democracy. Perhaps if you have it already, it's easier to say: "oh, it's just an illusion of freedom." It's interesting that last month,at the time of the huge street demonstrations in West European capitals, the streets of East European cities were conspicuously quiet. Was that because East Europeans are still afraid of expressing their views? Or was it because many of them actually supported US and UK policy on Iraq and the Middle East?
Given the size and extent of the massive demonstrations that took place in Eastern Europe 12 years ago, at the time of the fal of communism, one might have expected a repeat of such demonstrations. So - by refraining from public protest, were East Europeans actually expressing their support for Western democracy in the face of a type of tyranny that is all too familiar to them from the past?
halldor
This is a sentiment that is often expressed by the "progressive" left in their opposition to Western representative democracy, which they interpret as an illusionary structure intended to mislead the masses and prevent them from developing a true consciousness of their situation.
Yet in other parts of the world, democracy has been a scarce commodity. For example, 12 years ago in Eastern Europe, people greeted the advent of their freedom almost in disbelief, after decade upon decade of tyranny and intimidation from the Soviet Union. Yet the freedom was real, and so far it has lasted.
Perhaps it's easier for us in the West to cast doubts on the value of democracy. Perhaps if you have it already, it's easier to say: "oh, it's just an illusion of freedom." It's interesting that last month,at the time of the huge street demonstrations in West European capitals, the streets of East European cities were conspicuously quiet. Was that because East Europeans are still afraid of expressing their views? Or was it because many of them actually supported US and UK policy on Iraq and the Middle East?
Given the size and extent of the massive demonstrations that took place in Eastern Europe 12 years ago, at the time of the fal of communism, one might have expected a repeat of such demonstrations. So - by refraining from public protest, were East Europeans actually expressing their support for Western democracy in the face of a type of tyranny that is all too familiar to them from the past?
halldor