Why Democracy Matters: Lessons from History

[Linkey]

Many people around the world, especially in Russia, call themselves opponents of democracy. Their logic is simple — they believe they live well enough now without democracy. I will demonstrate the flaws in this reasoning.

Currently, there are quite prosperous monarchical countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. However, these modern monarchies are very different from ancient monarchies characterized as Eastern despotism. In today’s world, monarchies neighboring democracies must maintain relatively good governance, or they risk being overthrown. In civilizations unfamiliar with democracy, the oppression of the lower classes by the upper classes was really severe.

When an authoritarian state, such as a monarchy, borders a democratic country, its authorities fear revolution and thus cannot exploit the population excessively. They understand that if their citizens live worse than those in neighboring democracy, a revolution may occur, leading to a shift towards democratic governance. In this way, democracies exert an “ennobling” effect on neighboring authoritarian regimes. Despite this influence, these authoritarian countries often pose a military threat to democracies.

For instance, ancient Macedonia was more civilized than ancient Persia, even though both were monarchies. This difference can be attributed to Macedonia’s proximity to Greece and the democratic traditions of the latter.

Another historical example is Germany in the first half of the 20th century. Although Germany was an authoritarian state neighboring democratic France and England, the latter countries exerted an “ennobling” influence on it. Due to the English and French revolutions, 20th-century Germany did not have serfdom or other remnants of the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, Germany still posed a military threat to England and France.

Similarly, the medieval confrontation between Muscovy and the Novgorod Republic illustrates my point. While the Novgorod Republic existed, peasants in both Novgorod and Muscovy were relatively free. However, after Moscow conquered Novgorod, the gradual enslavement of peasants began, reaching its peak under Peter the Great.

If democracy is discredited worldwide, the world risks regressing into a new Middle Ages, which is a deeply concerning prospect. This scenario becomes more likely if Russia defeats Ukraine in the current conflict.

[exchemist]

2 hours ago, Linkey said:

Many people around the world, especially in Russia, call themselves opponents of democracy. Their logic is simple — they believe they live well enough now without democracy. I will demonstrate the flaws in this reasoning.

Currently, there are quite prosperous monarchical countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. However, these modern monarchies are very different from ancient monarchies characterized as Eastern despotism. In today’s world, monarchies neighboring democracies must maintain relatively good governance, or they risk being overthrown. In civilizations unfamiliar with democracy, the oppression of the lower classes by the upper classes was really severe.

When an authoritarian state, such as a monarchy, borders a democratic country, its authorities fear revolution and thus cannot exploit the population excessively. They understand that if their citizens live worse than those in neighboring democracy, a revolution may occur, leading to a shift towards democratic governance. In this way, democracies exert an “ennobling” effect on neighboring authoritarian regimes. Despite this influence, these authoritarian countries often pose a military threat to democracies.

For instance, ancient Macedonia was more civilized than ancient Persia, even though both were monarchies. This difference can be attributed to Macedonia’s proximity to Greece and the democratic traditions of the latter.

Another historical example is Germany in the first half of the 20th century. Although Germany was an authoritarian state neighboring democratic France and England, the latter countries exerted an “ennobling” influence on it. Due to the English and French revolutions, 20th-century Germany did not have serfdom or other remnants of the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, Germany still posed a military threat to England and France.

Similarly, the medieval confrontation between Muscovy and the Novgorod Republic illustrates my point. While the Novgorod Republic existed, peasants in both Novgorod and Muscovy were relatively free. However, after Moscow conquered Novgorod, the gradual enslavement of peasants began, reaching its peak under Peter the Great.

If democracy is discredited worldwide, the world risks regressing into a new Middle Ages, which is a deeply concerning prospect. This scenario becomes more likely if Russia defeats Ukraine in the current conflict.

Don't disagree with your basic thesis but, on a point of detail, there are many constitutional monarchies nowadays that are fully democratic. They are not necessarily authoritarian states, as you seem to assume, cf. Spain, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium. 

Edited July 21 by exchemist

[Peterkin]

4 hours ago, Linkey said:

For instance, ancient Macedonia was more civilized than ancient Persia, even though both were monarchies. This difference can be attributed to Macedonia’s proximity to Greece and the democratic traditions of the latter.

Sez who? How do you measure degree of civilization? It was the Macedonian princeling who went on a murderous rampage across the middle east.

4 hours ago, Linkey said:

Another historical example is Germany in the first half of the 20th century. Although Germany was an authoritarian state neighboring democratic France and England, the latter countries exerted an “ennobling” influence on it. Due to the English and French revolutions, 20th-century Germany did not have serfdom or other remnants of the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, Germany still posed a military threat to England and France.

The military threat of Germany had nothing to do with feudalism; in 1914, they just didn't have enough arable land or natural resources for the ascendancy to which their leaders aspired. In 1939, they were struggling with the harsh peace terms of WWI.

 

4 hours ago, Linkey said:

If democracy is discredited worldwide, the world risks regressing into a new Middle Ages, which is a deeply concerning prospect. This scenario becomes more likely if Russia defeats Ukraine in the current conflict.

  There are interest groups the world over who would like nothing better than to be liege lords of a feudal kingdom. That's why they've been corrupting and suborning democracies and setting gullible people against one another. Democracy itself can't be discredited, but democratic system can be and are being demolished. Which warlord wins which border dispute matters only to the peoples involved.

[Linkey]

4 hours ago, Peterkin said:

Sez who? How do you measure degree of civilization? It was the Macedonian princeling who went on a murderous rampage across the middle east.

My knowledge of Ancient Persia is not sufficient, but I know this state is considered as an example of Oriental despotism.

 

4 hours ago, Peterkin said:

The military threat of Germany had nothing to do with feudalism; in 1914, they just didn't have enough arable land or natural resources for the ascendancy to which their leaders aspired. In 1939, they were struggling with the harsh peace terms of WWI.

You are justifiing the Germans? Maybe you want to say that Hitler had a right to start the war?

[Peterkin]

15 minutes ago, Linkey said:

My knowledge of Ancient Persia is not sufficient, but I know this state is considered as an example of Oriental despotism.

So? What's that to do with civilization? All ancient civilizations were some form of despotism.

 

16 minutes ago, Linkey said:

You are justifiing the Germans?

No, I'm telling you the reasons for t5hings that happened.

17 minutes ago, Linkey said:

Maybe you want to say that Hitler had a right to start the war?

Of course not. He was a mad fool to do that. Got a whole lot of people killed. But, of course, there were plenty of other mad fools to go along with the gag.

Are you changing the subject?