Against Democracy

HYPE · 03-15-2013, 06:05 PM

Hi!

Could anyone recommend a book that presents some arguments against democracy? I would like to enhance my knowledge on this topic. Either in English or in French.

I found this book, but it looks like a very painful/boring one.

I thought that if there's a place where I can find what I'm looking for, it would be here.

Thank you!

fjtorres · 03-15-2013, 07:02 PM

Democracy as a whole or specific features of it? (Such as populism, parliamentarism, personality cults, etc?)
"Democracy" has many flavors ranging from kleptocracies to representative republics, each with its own specific set of dynamics to be evauated.
Also, are you looking for contemporary titles or classics?
For the latter, you might look to DeTocqueville and Edmund Burke.

For something contemporary, this might serve:
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Dem.../dp/0393058352

Or, for a broader view:
http://www.amazon.com/Shield-Achille...hilles+bobbitt

Fat Abe · 03-15-2013, 10:47 PM

The sad fact that people interchange the word democracy with capitalism allows many authors, including Noam Chomsky, to decry the former, when it is really capitalism or big government that they want to attack.

Even when the proper subject is covered, the argument is more about forms of democracy and why one is preferable to another, e.g., constitutional monarchy (British) vs. three-branch representative system (U.S). See Walter Bagehot's book, The English Constitution.

The reason we don't see too many history books promoting totalitarianism, aristocracy, plutocracy, or even meritocracy is that the authors would be quickly discredited. About the best one can hope for are books comparing various systems. Try Aron's book, for example.

A search of Amazon lists a number of anti-democracy books:

http://www.amazon.com/Books-tagged-a.../R1HOQX81S3MRM

This might be a useful place to begin research on what appears to be an interesting (but, frightening) line of thought. It figures that Wikipedia also has a page devoted to this subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-democratic_thought

morriss003 · 03-18-2013, 03:05 PM

The Republic by Plato
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbs
and most religious tracts

barutanseijin · 03-19-2013, 11:17 PM

I agree that Plato & Burke are a good places to start, but also pretty much anything by Nietzsche. And though it's not specifically anti-democratic, i'd also suggest Machiavelli.

03-15-2013, 06:05 PM	#1
HYPE Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1057078 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One	Against Democracy Hi! Could anyone recommend a book that presents some arguments against democracy? I would like to enhance my knowledge on this topic. Either in English or in French. I found this book, but it looks like a very painful/boring one. I thought that if there's a place where I can find what I'm looking for, it would be here. Thank you!

03-15-2013, 07:02 PM	#2
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Democracy as a whole or specific features of it? (Such as populism, parliamentarism, personality cults, etc?) "Democracy" has many flavors ranging from kleptocracies to representative republics, each with its own specific set of dynamics to be evauated. Also, are you looking for contemporary titles or classics? For the latter, you might look to DeTocqueville and Edmund Burke. For something contemporary, this might serve: http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Dem.../dp/0393058352 Or, for a broader view: http://www.amazon.com/Shield-Achille...hilles+bobbitt Last edited by fjtorres; 03-15-2013 at 07:05 PM.

03-15-2013, 10:47 PM	#3
Fat Abe Man Who Stares at Books Posts: 1,824 Karma: 10606722 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: 50th State, USA. Also, PA, NY, CA, and elsewhere. Device: All of the Above	The sad fact that people interchange the word democracy with capitalism allows many authors, including Noam Chomsky, to decry the former, when it is really capitalism or big government that they want to attack. Even when the proper subject is covered, the argument is more about forms of democracy and why one is preferable to another, e.g., constitutional monarchy (British) vs. three-branch representative system (U.S). See Walter Bagehot's book, The English Constitution. The reason we don't see too many history books promoting totalitarianism, aristocracy, plutocracy, or even meritocracy is that the authors would be quickly discredited. About the best one can hope for are books comparing various systems. Try Aron's book, for example. A search of Amazon lists a number of anti-democracy books: http://www.amazon.com/Books-tagged-a.../R1HOQX81S3MRM This might be a useful place to begin research on what appears to be an interesting (but, frightening) line of thought. It figures that Wikipedia also has a page devoted to this subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-democratic_thought Last edited by Fat Abe; 03-16-2013 at 04:20 PM. Reason: add links

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03-18-2013, 03:05 PM	#4
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	The Republic by Plato Leviathan by Thomas Hobbs and most religious tracts

03-19-2013, 11:17 PM	#5
barutanseijin Nxfgrrjks Posts: 99 Karma: 925422 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York, NY Device: aura hd	I agree that Plato & Burke are a good places to start, but also pretty much anything by Nietzsche. And though it's not specifically anti-democratic, i'd also suggest Machiavelli.

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