,AN>*I/S ,AGA9/ ,DEMOCRACY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

 ,MALATE/A 

,?IS IS :Y WE >E NEI!R = A MAJORITY NOR = A M9ORITY GOV]NM5T2 NEI!R = DEMOCRACY NOT = DICTATOR%IP4 ,WE >E = ! ABOLITION ( ! G5D>ME4 ,WE >E = ! FRE$OM ( ALL & = FREE AGREEM5T1 :I* WILL BE !RE = ALL :5 NO ONE HAS ! MEANS TO =CE O!RS1 & ALL >E 9VOLV$ 9 ! GOOD RUNN+ ( SOCIETY4 ,WE >E = AN>*Y4 

-- ,NEI!R ,DICTATORS1 NOR ,DEMOCRATS3 ,AN>*I/S 

,WE >E NOT DEMOCRATS =1 AMONG O!R REASONS1 DEMOCRACY SOON] OR LAT] LEADS TO W> & DICTATOR%IP4 ,JU/ AS WE >E NOT SUPPORT]S ( DICTATOR%IPS1 AMONG O!R ?+S1 BECAUSE DICTATOR%IP >\SES A DESIRE = DEMOCRACY1 PROVOKES A RETURN TO DEMOCRACY1 & ?US T5DS TO P]PETUATE A VICI\S CIRCLE 9 :I* HUMAN SOCIETY OSCILLATES BETWE5 OP5 & BRUTAL TYRANNY & A LY+ FRE$OM4 

,SO1 WE DECL>E W> ON DICTATOR%IP & W> ON DEMOCRACY4 

.<444.> 

',GOV]NM5T ( ! PEOPLE' NO1 BECAUSE ?IS PRESUPPOSES :AT C\LD NEV] HAPP5 - COMPLETE UNANIMITY ( WILL ( ALL ! 9DIVIDUALS ?AT MAKE UP ! PEOPLE4 ,IT W\LD BE CLOS] TO ! TRU? TO SAY1 'GOV]NM5T ( ! MAJORITY ( ! PEOPLE4' ,?IS IMPLIES A M9ORITY ?AT MU/ EI!R REBEL OR SUBMIT TO ! WILL ( O!RS4 

,BUT IT IS NEV] ! CASE ?AT ! REPRES5TATIVES ( ! MAJORITY ( PEOPLE >E ALL ( ! SAME M9D ON ALL QUE/IONS2 IT IS !RE=E NECESS>Y TO HAVE REC\RSE AGA9 TO ! MAJORITY SY/EM & ?US WE WILL GET CLOS] /ILL TO ! TRU? ) 'GOV]NM5T ( ! MAJORITY ( ! ELECT$ BY ! MAJORITY ( ! ELECTORS4' 

,:I* IS ALREADY BEG9N+ TO BE> A /RONG RESEMBLANCE TO M9ORITY GOV]NM5T4 

,& IF ONE !N TAKES 9TO ACC\NT ! WAY 9 :I* ELECTIONS >E HELD1 H[ ! POLITICAL P>TIES & P>LIAM5T>Y GR\P+S >E =M$ & H[ LAWS >E DRAWN UP & VOT$ & APPLI$1 IT IS EASY TO UND]/& :AT HAS ALREADY BE5 PROV$ BY UNIV]SAL HI/ORICAL EXP]I5CE3 EV5 9 ! MO/ DEMOCRATIC ( DEMOCRACIES IT IS ALWAYS A SMALL M9ORITY ?AT RULES & IMPOSES ITS WILL & 9T]E/S BY =CE4 

-- ,DEMOCRACY & ,AN>*Y 

,IT IS WELL KN[N ?AT AN>*I/S DO NOT ACCEPT MAJORITY GOV]NM5T 7DEMOCRACY71 ANY MORE ?AN !Y ACCEPT GOV]NM5T BY ! FEW 7>I/OCRACY1 OLIG>*Y1 OR DICTATOR%IP BY ONE CLASS OR P>TY7 NOR ?AT ( ONE 9DIVIDUAL 7AUTOCRACY1 MON>*Y OR P]SONAL DICTATOR%IP74 

-- ,A ,PROJECT ( ,AN>*I/ ,ORGANIZATION 

 ,KROPOTK9 

,IT IS BECOM+ UND]/OOD ?AT MAJORITY RULE IS AS DEFECTIVE AS ANY O!R K9D ( RULE2 & HUMANITY SE>*ES & F9DS NEW *ANNELS = RESOLV+ ! P5D+ QUE/IONS4 

-- ,PROCESS ,UND] ,SOCIALISM 

,AFT] HAV+ TRI$ ALL K9DS ( GOV]NM5T1 & 5DEAVOR$ TO SOLVE ! 9SOLUBLE PROBLEM ( HAV+ A GOV]NM5T 0:I* MI<T COMPEL ! 9DIVIDUAL TO OB$I5CE1 )\T ESCAP+ ITSELF FROM OB$I5CE TO COLLECTIVITY10 HUMANITY IS TRY+ N[ TO FREE ITSELF FROM ! BONDS ( ANY GOV]NM5T :ATEV]1 & TO RESPOND TO ITS NE$S ( ORGANIZATION BY ! FREE UND]/&+ BETWE5 9DIVIDUALS PURSU+ ! SAME COMMON AIMS4 

-- ,AN>*I/ ,COMMUNISM -- ,ITS ,BASIS & ,PR9CIPLES 

,IT SEEMS TO ME PROV$ BY EVID5CE ?AT1 M5 BE+ NEI!R ! ANGELS NOR ! SLAVES !Y >E SUPPOS$ TO BE BY ! AU?ORIT>IAN UTOPIANS -- ,AN>*I/ PR9CIPLES >E ! ONLY ONES UND] :I* A COMMUNITY HAS ANY *ANCES TO SUCCE$4 ,9 ! HUNDR$S ( HI/ORIES ( COMMUNITIES :I* ,I HAVE HAD ! OPPORTUNITY TO READ1 ,I ALWAYS SAW ?AT ! 9TRODUCTION ( ANY SORT ( ELECT$ AU?ORITY HAS ALWAYS BE51 )\T ONE S+LE EXCEPTION1 ! PO9T :I* ! COMMUNITY /R&$ UPON2 :ILE1 ON ! O!R SIDE1 ?OSE COMMUNITIES 5JOY$ A P>TIAL & SOMETIMES V]Y SUB/ANTIAL SUCCESS1 :I* ACCEPT$ NO AU?ORITY BESIDES ! UNANIM\S DECISION ( ! FOLKMOOT1 & PREF]R$1 AS A C\PLE ( HUNDR$ ( MILLIONS ( ,SLAVONIAN PEASANTS DO1 & AS ! ,G]MAN ,COMMUNI/S 9 ,AM]ICA DID1 TO DISCUSS EV]Y MATT] SO LONG AS A UNANIM\S DECISION ( ! FOLKMOOT C\LD BE >RIV$ AT4 

,COMMUNI/S1 :O >E B\ND TO LIVE 9 A N>R[ CIRCLE ( A FEW 9DIVIDUALS1 9 :I* CIRCLE ! PETTY /RUGGLES = DOM9ION >E ! MORE ACUTELY FELT1 \<T DECID$LY TO AB&ON ! ,UTOPIAS ( ELECT$ COMMITTEES' MANAGEM5T & MAJORITY RULE2 !Y MU/ B5D BE=E ! REALITY ( PRACTICE :I* IS AT WORK = MANY HUNDR$S ( YE>S 9 HUNDR$S ( ?\S&S ( VILLAGE COMMUNITIES -- ! FOLKMOOT -- & !Y MU/ REMEMB] ?AT 9 !SE COMMUNITIES1 MAJORITY RULE & ELECT$ GOV]NM5T HAVE ALWAYS BE5 SYNONYM\S & CONCOMITANT ) DIS9TEGRATION -- NEV] ) CONSOLIDATION4 

-- ,PROPOS$ ,COMMUNI/ ,SETTLEM5T3 ,A ,NEW ,COLONY = ,TYNESIDE OR ,WE>SIDE 

 ,TOL/OY 

,:51 AMONG A HUNDR$ M5 ONE MAN DOM9ATES N9ETY-N9E1 IT IS 9IQUITY1 IT IS DESPOTISM2 :5 T5 DOM9ATE N9ETY1 IT IS 9JU/ICE2 IT IS OLIG>*Y2 :5 FIFTY-ONE DOM9ATE =TY-N9E 7& ?IS ONLY !ORETICALLY1 =1 9 REALITY1 AMONG !SE FIFTY-ONE !RE >E T5 OR TWELVE MA/]S71 !N IT IS JU/ICE1 !N IT IS LIB]TY4 

,C\LD ONE IMAG9E ANY?+ MORE RIDICUL\S1 MORE ABSURD1 !N ?IS REASON+8 ,H[EV]1 ?IS IS ! V]Y ONE ?AT S]VES AS A BASIC PR9CIPLE = EV]Y ONE :O EXTOLS BETT] SOCIAL CONDITIONS4 

-- ,! ,LAW ( ,LOVE & ! ,LAW ( ,VIOL5CE 7UNSIGN$ EPIGRAPH7 

 ,P>SONS 

,:E!R GOV]NM5T CONSI/S ( ONE OV] A MILLION OR A MILLION OV] ONE1 AN AN>*I/ IS OPPOS$ TO ! RULE ( MAJORITY AS WELL AS M9ORITY4 

-- ,AN>*ISM3 ,ITS ,PHILOSOPHY & ,SCI5TIFIC ,BASIS 

 ,DUPONT 

,EV]Y TIME AN AN>*I/ SAYS1 0,I BELIEVE 9 DEMOCRACY10 !RE IS A LITTLE FAIRY SOME:]E ?AT FALLS D[N DEAD4 

,! GUILT-RIDD51 D\BLE-*ECK+ T5ETS ( DEMOCRACY BO!R ALL FRAGM5TS ( RADICAL OP9ION LIKE A HAZE ( LATE SUMM] MIDGES BUT ! AN>*I/ MILIEU SEEMS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO TOL]AT+1 EV5 EMBRAC+1 ?IS MADD5+ VISITATION444 

,! CYCLICAL RETURN )9 ! MILIEU TO ! T5ETS ( DEMOCRACY IS CONDUCT$ BY ?OSE :O 9 O!R ELEM5TS ( !IR [N ANALYSIS UND]/& ?AT IT HAS NO?+ TO DO ) EI!R ,GREEK IDEALS OR P[] TO ! PEOPLE & ?AT 9 REALITY IT CONSI/S ( LITTLE MORE ?AN A P>ADE ( CATTLE-PRODD$ COMMON S5SELESSNESS1 MORE ,L,A ,>NIE ?AN ,A!NIAN ,SOCRATES4 ,!SE REVOLUTION>IES /ATE EXPLICITLY 9 !IR MO/ LUCID MOM5TS ! DET]M9ATE RELATION%IP BETWE5 CAPITAL & ITS POLITICAL ADM9I/RATION BUT IT SEEMS ?AT EV5 ?IS IS NOT 5\< & ! TEMPTATION TO REF] BACK TO ! DEMOCRATIC =M AS AN IDEAL IS IRRESI/IBLE4 .<444.> 

,! MO/ RADICAL DEMOCRATS SEEK TO E/ABLI% :AT !Y CALL REAL OR DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 :I* !Y SAY WILL BR+ ALL SOCIALLY OCCURR+ PH5OM5A )9 ! SCOPE ( ! PROPOS$ POPUL> ASSEMBLY4 ,9 ONE B\ND !Y =GET1 9 ?AT 5DLESS OSCILLATION ?AT IS *RONIC TO ! LEFT1 ! OBJECTIVE 9FLU5CE ( BIG MONEY ON ! SOLUTIONS !Y PROPOSE EV5 AFT] !IR [N EF=TS TO PO9T \T ! SPECIFICS ( SU* 9/ANCES AS EXAMPLES ( ! PROBLEM ( ! PRES5T4 .<444.> 

,RADICAL & DIRECT DEMOCRATS SEEM EV]-DOOM$ TO =GET ?AT ! =M SOCIETY TAKES IS NOT F9ALLY DET]M9$ BY PUBLIC OP9ION1 BUT BY ! [N]%IP ( PROP]TY4 ,! SURFACE ( OP9IONS & ( SUBJECTIVE VALUES1 EV5 IF REGIM5T$ 9TO A MASS MOVEM5T1 >E NO OPPOSITION AT ALL TO ! =CE ( PROP]TY [N]%IP4 ,SU* MOVEM5TS PRESS ! BUTTON M>K$ 0HAVE Y\R SAY10 BUT IT IS CONNECT$ TO NO?+1 !Y >E 0MAK+ !MSELVES HE>D0 D[N ! PHONE BUT ! L9E IS CUT1 !Y >E 0/&+ UP = :AT'S RI<T0 BUT !IR FEET >E 9 QUICKS&4 ,! PETITIONS & LOBBY+S & PROTE/S & PRESSUR+S >E SO MANY OP5 DOORS TO EMPTY ROOMS4 

,! LABYR9? ( P>TICIPATION TURNS \T TO BE A FETI% ( ALI5AT$ CONSCI\SNESS1 0GETT+ 9VOLV$0 IS SPECIALLY DESIGN$ TO CONV9CE ! UNW>Y ?AT !IR CONC]N IS SPECIAL1 ?AT ?IS TIME !Y'RE REALLY MAK+ HEADWAY AGA9/ ALL PREC$5CE ( ! CIRCUMLOCUTION (FICE1 & ?AT REALLY1 REALLY *ANGE IS V]Y CLOSE N[1 AH BUT !Y >5'T & IT ISN'T -- & IF1 AS ! RADICALS HAVE DIAGNOS$1 ?IS DEMOCRACY IS ONE SIGN ( A FUNDAM5TAL ECONOMIC ALI5ATION !N IT W\LD BE A /RANGE M$IC9E 9DE$ ?AT RECOMM5D$ ITS TREATM5T BY MEANS ( A BLANKET APPLICATION ( ITS SYMPTOM4 .<444.> 

,SO1 IF IT IS N[ E/ABLI%$ ?AT DEMOCRACY AT ITS HE>T IS A TRICK TO DI/RACT ATT5TION FROM ECONOMIC DOM9ATION ( ONE CLASS BY ANO!R !N IT IS UNLIKELY ?AT ANY POPUL> ASSEMBLY 9 ANY IMAG9ABLE CIRCUM/ANCE C\LD DEF5D ITSELF AGA9/ NON-EXPLICIT MANIPULATION FROM HIDD5 =CES1 FACTIONS1 SPL9T]S & SO ON 7! CONTR>Y3 ! MORE OP5 & HONE/ ! ASSEMBLY IS T[>DS ! CITIZ5RY ! MORE RESPONSIVE IT IS TO HIDD5 9FLU5CE74 ,I ALSO DO NOT SEE H[ ANY GIV5 DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTION C\LD PREV5T AT LEA/ ONE DEGREE ( ALI5ATION OP5+ UP BETWE5 ITSELF & ! SOCIAL BODY1 & 9 ?AT UNSPOK5 SPACE :O KN[S :AT LURKS8 

,DEMOCRACY CANNOT DISMEMB] CAPITALISM4 .<444.> 

,IT IS NO MIRACUL\S FEAT ( PROPHECY TO PR$ICT ?AT MANY IF NOT ALL ( ?OSE 9VOLV$ 9 ! CURR5T PROTE/ MOVEM5T WILL 5D UP AS FUTURE 5TREPR5EURS & POLITICIANS ( ! E/ABLI%M5T4 ,SU* IS ! HI/ORY ( POLITICAL PROTE/4 ,! ,FR5*1 ,AM]ICAN1 & ,RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONS1 & EV5 ! PROTE/S ( ! ,SIXTIES ALL DISGUIS$ SELF-9T]E/$1 ECONOMICALLY BAS$1 AMBITIONS BEH9D A ,BIRNHAM WOOD ( SLOGANS = UNIV]SAL EMANCIPATION4 

,MANY 5]GETIC & 9DEP5D5T S\LS HAVE 5T]$ DEMOCRATIC POLITICS SAY+ !Y W]E GO+ TO BR+ ! PRACTICE ( DEMOCRACY 9TO L9E ) ITS ALLEG$ IDEALS4 ,ALL HAVE 5D$ 9/EAD BY ADAPT+ !MSELVES TO :AT EXI/$ BE=E !M4 ,! ,5GLI% REBEL ,M,P ,DIANE ,ABBOTT1 FAM\S ONLY = CA/IGAT+ H] ,NEW ,LABOR COLLEAGUES = S5D+ !IR *ILDR5 TO PRIVATE S*OOLS1 5DS BY S5D+ H] KID TO A PRIVATE S*OOL4 ,I DON'T CRITICIZE H]1 IT'S 9EVITABLE1 ! POLITICAL CLASS >E SEP>ATE1 H] KID W\LD C]TA9LY BE A T>GET1 & ! NATURE ( PRIVILEGE IS ?AT Y\ CAN *OOSE TO ESCAPE :AT ! RE/ ( US HAVE NO *OICE 94 ,?OSE :O ATTEMPT TO RE=M PRIVILEGE FROM )9 5D UP AS ITS B5EFICI>IES4 ,SO IT IS NO SURPRISE :51 = :ATEV] REASON1 DEMOCRATIC AMBITIONS >E PROCLAIM$ )9 ! AN>*I/ MILIEU & !SE WE-DON'T-MEAN-IT-9-!-SAME-WAY-!Y-DO SELF-DESCRIB$ AN>*I/S CONCLUDE !IR IGNOM9I\S C>E] BY PROPOS+ AN>*I/ 9T]V5TION 9 ! ELECTORAL PROCESS 7AS ! =M] $ITOR ( ,GRE5 ,AN>*I/ DID 9 ,FRE$OM #i_/#h_/#c74 

,:5 AN>*I/S DECL>E !MSELVES DEMOCRATS = RESPECTABILITY'S SAKE1 SO !Y CAN GET ON BETT] AT UNIV]SITY RESE>* DEP>TM5TS1 SO !Y CAN TAP 9TO A %>$ & HONORABLE LEFT TRADITION1-SO !Y CAN P>TICIPATE 9 ! GLOBAL =UM1 :5 !Y CR[N !IR DECOMPOSITION BY SAY+1 0WE'RE DEMOCRATS TOO1 WE'RE TRUE DEMOCRATS1 P>TICIPATORY DEMOCRATS0 !Y \<T NOT BE SURPRIS$ AT H[ 5?USIA/IC DEMOCRACY IS TO RETURN ! COMPLIM5T1 & ( C\RSE TO EXTRACT ITS PRICE4 ,?OSE :O SIGN !IR NAMES SOON F9D !MSELVES FALL+ SIL5T ON A SPRAY ( O!R MATT]S TO :I* DEMOCRACY & ! =CE BEH9D IT >E SECRETLY HO/ILE1 & ( ?AT 9VISIBLE B\QUET CLASS IS ! BIG1 BOLD1 BL\SEY ONE4 

-- ,DEMOCRACY 

 ,B]KMAN 

,! ESS5CE ( AU?ORITY IS 9VASION1 ! IMPO/ION ( A SUP]IOR WILL -- G5]ALLY SUP]IOR ONLY 9 PO9T ( PHYSICAL =CE4 ,! M5ACE ( MAN-MADE AU?ORITY IS NOT 9 ITS POT5TIAL ABUSE4 ,?AT MAY BE GU>D$ AGA9/4 ,! FUNDAM5TAL EVIL ( AU?ORITY IS ITS USE4 ,! MORE PAT]NAL ITS *>ACT] OR ! MORE HUMANI/IC ITS SYMBOLS & MOTTOES1 ! GREAT] ITS DANG]4 ,NO SLAV]Y SO DEEP-ROOT$ & /ABLE ?AN ! SUBTLE HYPNOTISM ( ,DEMOCRACY'S PHRASEOLOGY4 ,IT IS MESM]IZ+ TO WAT* ! GIRATIONS ( A BALLOON LABEL$ 0,LIB]TY40 ,! REQUIR$ OPTICAL 9T5SITY ONLY TOO (T5 LULLS TO =GETFULNESS EV5 ?OSE VAGUELY CONSCI\S ?AT ! PR\DLY SO>+ BALLOON HOLDS NO?+ BUT GAS -A *ILD'S TOY ) NO SUB/ANCE4 

,! DEMOCRATIC AU?ORITY ( MAJORITY RULE IS ! LA/ PILL> ( TYRANNY4 ,! LA/1 BUT ! /RONGE/4 ,IT IS AT ! BASE ( ?IS PILL> ?AT ! ,AN>*I/ AX HAS BE5 HEW+4 

-- ,APROPOS 79 ,! ,MO!R ,E>? ,BULLET97 

 ,PR\DHON 

,:AT IS DEMOCRACY8 ,! SOV]EIGNTY ( ! NATION1 OR1 RA!R1 ( ! NATIONAL MAJORITY444 9 REALITY !RE IS NO REVOLUTION 9 ! GOV]NM5T1 S9CE ! PR9CIPLE REMA9S ! SAME4 ,N[1 WE HAVE ! PRO( TO-DAY ?AT1 ) ! MO/ P]FECT DEMOCRACY1 WE CANNOT BE FREE4 

-- ,:AT IS ,PROP]TY8 

0,WE MAY CONCLUDE )\T FE> ?AT ! REVOLUTION>Y =MULA CANNOT BE ,DIRECT ,LEGISLATION1 NOR ,DIRECT ,GOV]NM5T1 NOR ,SIMPLIFI$ ,GOV]NM5T1 ?AT IT IS ,NO ,GOV]NM5T4 ,NEI!R MON>*Y1 NOR >I/OCRACY1 NOR EV5 DEMOCRACY ITSELF1 9 SO F> AS IT MAY IMPLY ANY GOV]NM5T AT ALL1 EV5 ?\< ACT+ 9 ! NAME ( ! PEOPLE1 & CALL+ ITSELF ! PEOPLE4 

,NO AU?ORITY1 NO GOV]NM5T1 NOT EV5 POPUL>1 ?AT IS ! ,REVOLUTION4 ,DIRECT LEGISLATION1 DIRECT GOV]NM5T1 SIMPLIFI$ GOV]NM5T1 >E ANCI5T LIES1 :I* !Y TRY 9 VA9 TO REJUV5ATE4 ,DIRECT OR 9DIRECT1 SIMPLE OR COMPLEX1 GOV]N+ ! PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE SW9DL+ ! PEOPLE4 ,IT IS ALWAYS MAN GIV+ ORD]S TO MAN1 ! FICTION :I* MAKES AN 5D TO LIB]TY2 BRUTE =CE :I* CUTS QUE/IONS %ORT1 9 ! PLACE ( JU/ICE1 :I* ALONE CAN ANSW] !M2 OB/9ATE AMBITION1 :I* MAKES A /EPP+ /ONE ( DEVOTION & CR$ULITY4440 

-- ,! ,G5]AL ,IDEA ( ! ,REVOLUTION 9 ! #a#i? ,C5TURY 

,EV]Y IDEA IS E/ABLI%$ OR REFUT$ BY A S]IES ( T]MS ?AT >E1 AS IT W]E1 ITS ORGANISM1 ! LA/ T]M ( :I* DEMON/RATES IRREVOCABLY ITS TRU? OR ]ROR4 ,IF ! DEVELOPM5T1 9/EAD ( TAK+ PLACE SIMPLY 9 ! M9D & ?R\< !ORY1 IS C>RI$ \T AT ! SAME TIME 9 9/ITUTIONS & ACTS1 IT CON/ITUTES HI/ORY4 ,?IS IS ! CASE ) ! PR9CIPLE ( AU?ORITY OR GOV]NM5T4 

,! FIR/ =M 9 :I* ?IS PR9CIPLE IS MANIFE/$ IS ?AT ( ABSOLUTE P[]4 ,?IS IS ! PURE/1 ! MO/ RATIONAL1 ! MO/ DYNAMIC1 ! MO/ /RAI<T=W>D1 &1 ON ! :OLE1 ! LEA/ IMMORAL & ! LEA/ DISAGREEABLE =M ( GOV]NM5T4 

,BUT ABSOLUTISM1 9 ITS NAIVE EXPRESSION1 IS ODI\S TO REASON & TO LIB]TY2 ! CONSCI5CE ( ! PEOPLE IS ALWAYS >\S$ AGA9/ IT4 ,AFT] ! CONSCI5CE1 REVOLT MAKES ITS PROTE/ HE>D4 ,SO ! PR9CIPLE ( AU?ORITY HAS BE5 =C$ TO )DRAW3 IT RETREATS /EP BY /EP1 ?R\< A S]IES ( CONCESSIONS1 EA* ONE MORE 9ADEQUATE ?AN ! ONE BE=E1 ! LA/ ( :I*1 PURE DEMOCRACY OR DIRECT GOV]NM5T1 RESULTS 9 ! IMPOSSIBLE & ! ABSURD4 ,?US1 ! FIR/ T]M ( ! S]IES BE+ ,A,B,S,O,L,U,T,I,S,M1 ! F9AL1 FATEFUL .<FATIDIQUE.> T]M IS AN>*Y1 UND]/OOD 9 ALL ITS S5SES4 

-- ,! ,G5]AL ,IDEA ( ! ,REVOLUTION 9 ! #a#i? ,C5TURY 

,SOCIALI/S %\LD BREAK COMPLETELY ) DEMOCRATIC IDEAS4 

-- ,SELECTIONS FROM ! ,C>NETS 

 ,?OREAU 

,CA/ Y\R :OLE VOTE1 NOT A /RIP ( PAP] M]ELY1 BUT Y\R :OLE 9FLU5CE4 ,A M9ORITY IS P[]LESS :ILE IT CON=MS TO ! MAJORITY2 IT IS NOT EV5 A M9ORITY !N2 BUT IT IS IRRESI/IBLE :5 IT CLOGS BY ITS :OLE WEI<T4 

-- ,CIVIL ,DISOB$I5CE 

 ,BAKUN9 

,9 %ORT1 WE REJECT ALL LEGISLATION1 ALL AU?ORITY & EV]Y PRIVILEG$1 LIC5S$1 (FICIAL1 & LEGAL 9FLU5CE1 EV5 ?AT >IS+ FROM UNIV]SAL SUFFRAGE1 CONV9C$ ?AT IT CAN ONLY EV] TURN TO ! ADVANTAGE ( A DOM9ANT1 EXPLOIT+ M9ORITY & AGA9/ ! 9T]E/S ( ! IMM5SE1 SUBJUGAT$ MAJORITY4 ,IT IS 9 ?IS S5SE ?AT WE >E REALLY ,AN>*I/S4 

-- ,:AT IS ,AU?ORITY 

 ,SPOON] 

,! WILL1 OR ! PRET5D$ WILL1 ( ! MAJORITY1 IS ! LA/ LURK+ PLACE ( TYRANNY AT ! PRES5T DAY4 ,! DOGMA1 ?AT C]TA9 9DIVIDUALS & FAMILIES HAVE A DIV9E APPO9TM5T TO GOV]N ! RE/ ( MANK9D1 IS FA/ GIV+ PLACE TO ! ONE ?AT ! L>G] NUMB] HAVE A RI<T TO GOV]N ! SMALL]2 A DOGMA1 :I* MAY1 OR MAY NOT1 BE LESS OPPRESSIVE 9 ITS PRACTICAL OP]ATION1 BUT :I* C]TA9LY IS NO LESS FALSE OR TYRANNICAL 9 PR9CIPLE1 ?AN ! ONE IT IS SO RAPIDLY SUPPLANT+4 ,OBVI\SLY !RE IS NO?+ 9 ! NATURE ( MAJORITIES1 ?AT 9SURES JU/ICE AT !IR H&S4 ,!Y HAVE ! SAME PASSIONS AS M9ORITIES1 & !Y HAVE NO QUALITIES :ATEV] ?AT %\LD BE EXPECT$ TO PREV5T !M FROM PRACTIC+ ! SAME TYRANNY AS M9ORITIES1 IF !Y ?9K IT WILL BE = !IR 9T]E/ TO DO SO4 

,!RE IS NO P>TICLE ( TRU? 9 ! NOTION ?AT ! MAJORITY HAVE A RI<T TO RULE1 OR TO EX]CISE >BITR>Y P[] OV]1 ! M9ORITY1 SIMPLY BECAUSE ! =M] >E MORE NUM]\S ?AN ! LATT]4 ,TWO M5 HAVE NO MORE NATURAL RI<T TO RULE ONE1 ?AN ONE HAS TO RULE TWO4 ,ANY S+LE MAN1 OR ANY BODY ( M51 MANY OR FEW1 HAVE A NATURAL RI<T TO MA9TA9 JU/ICE = !MSELVES1 & = ANY O!RS :O MAY NE$ !IR ASSI/ANCE1 AGA9/ ! 9JU/ICE ( ANY & ALL O!R M51 )\T REG>D TO !IR NUMB]S2 & MAJORITIES HAVE NO RI<T TO DO ANY MORE ?AN ?IS4 

,! RELATIVE NUMB]S ( ! OPPOS+ P>TIES HAVE NO?+ TO DO ) ! QUE/ION ( RI<T4 ,& NO MORE TYRANNICAL PR9CIPLE WAS EV] AV[$1 ?AN ?AT ! WILL ( ! MAJORITY \<T TO HAVE ! =CE ( LAW1 )\T REG>D TO ITS JU/ICE2 OR1 :AT IS ! SAME ?+1 ?AT ! WILL ( ! MAJORITY \<T ALWAYS TO BE PRESUM$ TO BE 9 ACCORDANCE ) JU/ICE4 ,SU* A DOCTR9E IS ONLY ANO!R =M ( ! DOCTR9E ?AT MI<T MAKES RI<T4 

-- ,AN ,ESSAY ON ! ,TRIAL BY ,JURY 

 ,CRIME?,9C 

,BUT EV5 IF !RE W]E NO ,PRESID5TS OR T[N C\NCILS1 DEMOCRACY AS WE KN[ IT W\LD /ILL BE AN IMP$IM5T TO FRE$OM4 ,CORRUPTION1 PRIVILEGE1 & HI]>*Y ASIDE1 MAJORITY RULE IS NOT ONLY 9H]5TLY OPPRESSIVE BUT ALSO P>ADOXICALLY DIVISIVE & HOMOG5IZ+ AT ! SAME TIME4 .<444.> 

,IT'S WOR? REFLECT+ ON :AT SORT ( UTOPIA IS IMPLI$ BY IDEALIZ+ DIRECT DEMOCRACY AS A =M ( GOV]NM5T4 ,IMAG9E ! K9D ( TOTALIT>IANISM IT W\LD TAKE TO PRODUCE 5\< COHESION TO GOV]N A SOCIETY VIA CONS5SUS PROCESS--TO GET EV]YONE TO AGREE4 ,TALK AB\T R$UC+ ?+S TO ! L[E/ COMMON D5OM9ATOR6 

-- ,! ,AN>*I/ ,CRITIQUE ( ,DEMOCRACY 

,EV5 AS ITS P>TISANS HAVE TRUMPET$ ITS SUPPOS$ 9CLUSIVITY1 9 PRACTICE DEMOCRACY HAS ALWAYS DEM&$ A WAY ( DI/+UI%+ BETWE5 9CLUD$ & EXCLUD$4 ,?AT C\LD BE /ATUS 9 ! LEGISLATURE1 VOT+ RI<TS1 CITIZ5%IP1 MEMB]%IP1 RACE1 G5D]1 AGE1 OR P>TICIPATION 9 /REET ASSEMBLIES2 BUT 9 EV]Y =M ( DEMOCRACY1 = !RE TO BE LEGITIMATE DECISIONS1 !RE HAVE TO BE =MAL CONDITIONS ( LEGITIMACY1 & A DEF9$ GR\P ( PEOPLE :O MEET !M4 

,9 ?IS REG>D1 DEMOCRACY 9/ITUTIONALIZES ! PROV9CIAL1 *AUV9I/ *>ACT] ( ITS ,GREEK ORIG9S1 AT ! SAME TIME AS IT SEEM+LY (F]S A MODEL ?AT C\LD 9VOLVE ALL ! WORLD4 ,?IS IS :Y DEMOCRACY HAS PROV5 SO COMPATIBLE ) NATIONALISM & ! /ATE2 IT PRESUPPOSES ! ,O!R1 :O IS NOT ACCORD$ ! SAME RI<TS OR POLITICAL AG5CY4 

,! FOCUS ON 9CLUSION & EXCLUSION IS CLE> 5\< AT ! DAWN ( MOD]N DEMOCRACY 9 ,R\SSEAU'S 9FLU5TIAL ,( ! ,SOCIAL ,CONTRACT1 9 :I* HE EMPHASIZES ?AT !RE IS NO CONTRADICTION BETWE5 DEMOCRACY & SLAV]Y4 ,! MORE 0EVILDO]S0 >E 9 *A9S1 HE SUGGE/S1 ! MORE P]FECT ! FRE$OM ( ! CITIZ5S4 ,FRE$OM = ! WOLF IS DEA? = ! LAMB1 AS ,ISAIAH ,B]L9 LAT] PUT IT4 ,! Z]O-SUM CONCEPTION ( FRE$OM EXPRESS$ 9 ?IS METAPHOR IS ! F\NDATION ( ! DISC\RSE ( RI<TS GRANT$ & PROTECT$ BY ! /ATE4 ,9 O!R WORDS3 = CITIZ5S TO BE FREE1 ! /ATE MU/ POSSESS ULTIMATE AU?ORITY & ! CAPACITY TO EX]CISE TOTAL CONTROL4 ,! /ATE SEEKS TO PRODUCE %EEP1 RES]V+ ! POSITION ( WOLF = ITSELF4 .<444.> 

,?OSE :O PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AS AN ALT]NATIVE TO ! /ATE R>ELY DRAW A MEAN+FUL DI/9CTION BETWE5 ! TWO4 ,IF Y\ DISP5SE ) REPRES5TATION1 CO]CIVE 5=CEM5T1 & ! RULE ( LAW1 YET KEEP ALL ! O!R HALLM>KS ?AT MAKE DEMOCRACY A MEANS ( GOV]N+--CITIZ5%IP1 VOT+1 & ! C5TRALIZATION ( LEGITIMACY 9 A S+LE DECISION-MAK+ /RUCTURE--Y\ 5D UP RETA9+ ! PROC$URES ( GOV]NM5T )\T ! ME*ANISMS ?AT MAKE !M EFFECTIVE4 ,?IS COMB9ES ! WOR/ ( BO? WORLDS4 ,IT 5SURES ?AT ?OSE :O APPROA* ANTI-/ATE DEMOCRACY EXPECT+ IT TO P]=M ! SAME FUNCTION AS ! /ATE WILL 9EVITABLY BE DISAPPO9T$1 :ILE CREAT+ A SITUATION 9 :I* ANTI-/ATE DEMOCRACY T5DS TO REPRODUCE ! DYNAMICS ASSOCIAT$ ) /ATE DEMOCRACY ON A SMALL] SCALE4 

,F9ALLY1 IT'S A LOS+ BATTLE4 ,IF :AT Y\ MEAN TO D5OTE BY ! WORD DEMOCRACY CAN ONLY OCCUR \TSIDE ! FRAMEWORK ( ! /ATE1 IT CREATES CONSID]ABLE AMBIGUITY TO USE A T]M ?AT HAS BE5 ASSOCIAT$ ) /ATE POLITICS = #be YE>S4 ,MO/ PEOPLE WILL ASSUME ?AT :AT Y\ MEAN BY DEMOCRACY IS RECONCILABLE ) ! /ATE AFT] ALL4 ,?IS SETS ! /AGE = /ATI/ P>TIES & /RATEGIES TO REGA9 LEGITIMACY 9 ! PUBLIC EYE1 EV5 AFT] HAV+ BE5 COMPLETELY DISCR$IT$4 ,! POLITICAL P>TIES ,PODEMOS & ,SYRIZA GA9$ TRACTION 9 ! OCCUPI$ SQU>ES ( ,B>CELONA & ,A!NS ?ANKS TO !IR RHETORIC AB\T DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 ONLY TO MAKE !IR WAY 9TO ! HALLS ( GOV]NM5T :]E !Y >E N[ BEHAV+ LIKE ANY O!R POLITICAL P>TY4 ,!Y'RE /ILL DO+ DEMOCRACY1 JU/ MORE EFFICI5TLY & EFFECTIVELY4 ,)\T A LANGUAGE ?AT DIFF]5TIATES :AT !Y >E DO+ 9 P>LIAM5T FROM :AT PEOPLE W]E DO+ 9 ! SQU>ES1 ?IS PROCESS WILL RECUR AGA9 & AGA94 

,:5 WE ID5TIFY :AT WE >E DO+ :5 WE OPPOSE ! /ATE AS ! PRACTICE ( DEMOCRACY1 WE SET ! /AGE = \R EF=TS TO BE REABSORB$ 9TO L>G] REPRES5TATIONAL /RUCTURES4 ,DEMOCRACY IS NOT JU/ A WAY ( MANAG+ ! APP>ATUS ( GOV]NM5T1 BUT ALSO ( REG5]AT+ & LEGITIMIZ+ IT4 ,C&IDATES1 P>TIES1 REGIMES1 & EV5 ! =M ( GOV]NM5T CAN BE SWAPP$ \T FROM TIME TO TIME :5 IT BECOMES CLE> ?AT !Y CANNOT SOLVE ! PROBLEMS ( !IR CON/ITU5TS4 ,9 ?IS WAY1 GOV]NM5T ITSELF--! S\RCE ( AT LEA/ SOME ( ?OSE PROBLEMS--IS ABLE TO P]SI/4 ,DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS JU/ ! LATE/ WAY TO REBR& IT4 

,EV5 )\T ! FAMILI> TRAPP+S ( ! /ATE1 ANY =M ( GOV]NM5T REQUIRES SOME WAY ( DET]M9+ :O CAN P>TICIPATE 9 DECISION-MAK+ & ON :AT T]MS--ONCE AGA91 :O C\NTS AS ! DEMOS4 ,SU* /IPULATIONS MAY BE VAGUE AT FIR/1 BUT !Y WILL GET MORE CONCRETE ! OLD] AN 9/ITUTION GR[S & ! HI<] ! /AKES GET4 ,& IF !RE IS NO WAY ( 5=C+ DECISIONS--NO KRATOS--! DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES ( GOV]NM5T WILL HAVE NO MORE WEI<T ?AN DECISIONS PEOPLE MAKE AUTONOM\SLY4 ,?IS IS ! P>ADOX ( A PROJECT ?AT SEEKS GOV]NM5T )\T ! /ATE4 

,!SE CONTRADICTIONS >E />K 5\< 9 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9'S =MULATION ( LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM AS AN ALT]NATIVE TO /ATE GOV]NANCE4 ,9 LIB]T>IAN MUNICIPALISM1 ,BOOK*9 EXPLA9$1 AN EXCLUSIVE & AV[$LY VANGU>DI/ ORGANIZATION GOV]N$ BY LAWS & A ,CON/ITUTION W\LD MAKE DECISIONS BY MAJORITY VOTE4 ,!Y W\LD RUN C&IDATES 9 CITY C\NCIL ELECTIONS1 ) ! LONG-T]M GOAL ( E/ABLI%+ A CONF$]ATION ?AT C\LD REPLACE ! /ATE4 ,ONCE SU* A CONF$]ATION GOT UND]WAY1 MEMB]%IP WAS TO BE B9D+ EV5 IF P>TICIPAT+ MUNICIPALITIES WANT$ TO )DRAW4 ,?OSE :O TRY TO RETA9 GOV]NM5T )\T ! /ATE >E LIKELY TO 5D UP ) SOME?+ LIKE ! /ATE BY ANO!R NAME4 

,! IMPORTANT DI/9CTION IS NOT BETWE5 DEMOCRACY & ! /ATE1 !N1 BUT BETWE5 GOV]NM5T & SELF-DET]M9ATION4 ,GOV]NM5T IS ! EX]CISE ( AU?ORITY OV] A GIV5 SPACE OR POLITY3 :E!R ! PROCESS IS DICTATORIAL OR P>TICIPATORY1 ! 5D RESULT IS ! IMPOSITION ( CONTROL4 ,BY CONTRA/1 SELF-DET]M9ATION MEANS DISPOS+ ( ONE'S POT5TIAL ON ONE'S [N T]MS3 :5 PEOPLE 5GAGE 9 IT TOGE!R1 !Y >E NOT RUL+ EA* O!R1 BUT FO/]+ CUMULATIVE AUTONOMY4 ,FREELY MADE AGREEM5TS REQUIRE NO 5=CEM5T2 SY/EMS ?AT CONC5TRATE LEGITIMACY 9 A S+LE 9/ITUTION OR DECISION-MAK+ PROCESS ALWAYS DO4 

,IT IS /RANGE TO USE ! WORD DEMOCRACY = ! IDEA ?AT ! /ATE IS 9H]5TLY UNDESIRABLE4 ,! PROP] WORD = ?AT IDEA IS AN>*ISM4 ,AN>*ISM OPPOSES ALL EXCLUSION & DOM9ATION 9 FAVOR ( ! RADICAL DEC5TRALIZATION ( P[] /RUCTURES1 DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES1 & NOTIONS ( LEGITIMACY4 ,IT IS NOT A MATT] ( GOV]N+ 9 A COMPLETELY P>TICIPATORY MANN]1 BUT ( MAK+ IT IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPOSE ANY =M ( RULE4 

-- ,FROM ,DEMOCRACY ,TO ,FRE$OM 

 ,WILBUR 

,IT SEEMS CLE> TO ME ?AT NE>LY ALL ( ! >GUM5TS = ATTEMPT+ TO 9CORPORATE DEMOCRACY 9TO AN>*Y 9VOLVE SOME CONFUSION ( PR9CIPLES1 OR A CONFUSION ( PR9CIPLES & PRACTICES4 ,&1 UN=TUNATELY1 ?OSE CONFUSIONS (T5 LOOK A LOT LIKE ?OSE US$ 9 ! ATTEMPT TO PROVE ?AT AN>*Y IS ITSELF IMPOSSIBLE1 SU* AS ,5GELS' ATTEMPT TO DISMISS ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS BY CONFLAT+ AU?ORITY & =CE4 ,IT IS LESS CLE> TO ME :Y SO MANY PEOPLE :O PRESUMABLY HAVE SOME 9VE/M5T 9 ! NOTION ( AN>*ISM /RUGGLE SO MI<TILY TO FULLY EMBRACE AN>*Y1 BUT ?AT'S NOT BECAUSE ! *ALL5GES 9H]5T 9 AN>*Y >E NOT ABSOLUTELY APP>5T4 ,9/EAD1 ,I'M JU/ NOT SURE :Y ANYONE W\LD EMBRACE AN>*ISM IF !Y HAD S]I\S D\BTS AB\T ! POSSIBILITY OR DESIRABILITY ( AN>*Y4 

-- ,AN>*Y & ,DEMOCRACY3 ,EXAM9+ ! ,DIVIDE 

 ,ROB9SON 

,AN>*Y & DEMOCRACY >E 9COMPATIBLE1 BECAUSE AN>*Y IS BAS$ ON AN ACTIVE POLITICS ( DESIRE :]EAS DEMOCRACY IS NECESS>ILY REACTIVE & ?US PLAYS 9TO ! REPRESSIVE LOGICS ( 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY & ESPECIALLY1 ( CONTEMPOR>Y CAPITALISM4 ,I CONCEIVE ( A POLITICS ( DESIRE AS OP]AT+ ?R\< ! LIB]ATION ( ACTIVE DESIRES -- DESIRES ?AT ACTIVELY CONNECT ) ! WORLD -- OV] & AGA9/ REACTIVE DESIRES -- DESIRES ?AT >E FUEL$ BY A PRIM>Y DESIRE TO REPRESS DESIRE ITSELF4 ,CONV5TIONAL POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES DEP5D DEEPLY ON REACTIVE S*EMATA1 & ! PO9T ( AN>*Y IS NOT SIMPLY TO OPPOSE ! MACRO-SOCIAL =MS ?AT RESULT FROM SU* S*EMATA1 BUT ALSO TO OPPOSE ! MICRO-SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL_/PSY*OLOGICAL =MATIONS ON :I* SU* =MS >E BUILT4 

,DEMOCRACY & ! POLITICS ( DESIRE MAY SEEM COMPLEM5T>Y1 BUT 9 FACT !Y RUN CONTR>Y TO EA* O!R4 ,! REASON = ?IS IS ?AT1 :ILE ! POLITICS ( DESIRE 9VOLVES AN IMM$IACY ( EXPRESSION & AN OPPOSITION TO DISCURSIVE EXCLUSIONS ?AT OP]ATE REPRESSIVELY1 DEMOCRACY IMPLIES ! EXCLUSION OR REPRESSION ( M9ORITIES AS P>T ( ITS BASIC LOGIC4 ,?AT M9ORITIES BE PREV5T$ FROM EXPRESS+ !MSELVES ) WILDNESS & IMM$IACY -- ?AT !Y REMA9 ALWAYS ! 0LOYAL OPPOSITION0 )9 ! CONF9ES ( A SY/EM 9 :I* ! MAJORITY GETS ITS WAY -- IS A NECESS>Y P>T ( ! IDEA ( DEMOCRACY4 ,= ?IS REASON1 DEMOCRACY GOES AGA9/ ! EMANCIPATION ( DESIRE1 OP]AT+ SIMPLY AS A P>TICUL>LY P[]FUL IDEOLOGY ( RECUP]ATION ) ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE1 & !RE=E 9SIDI\S1 WAYS ( EXCUS+ SOCIAL REPRESSION4 

,DEMOCRACY HAS COME TO MEAN AT LEA/ ?REE DIFF]5T ?+S 9 CONTEMPOR>Y POLITICAL DISC\RSE4 ,FIR/ ( ALL1 IT MEANS 0RULE BY ! PEOPLE0 -- ! LIT]AL MEAN+4 ,SECONDLY1 IT MEANS MORE SPECIFICALLY1 RULE BY ! MAJORITY -- C\NT]POS$ TO M9ORITY RULE 7& ALSO1 9VISIBLY1 TO ! REFUSAL ( RULE1 TO AN>*Y1 :I* IS ALSO A REFUSAL ( M9ORITIES TO BE RUL$ BY MAJORITIES1 AS WELL AS A REFUSAL TO RULE OV] !M74 ,?IRDLY1 IT IS US$ TO REF] TO A COMPLEX ( 9/ITUTIONS TYPICAL ( SOCIETIES EMBRAC+ ASPECTS ( LIB]ALISM4 ,IT IS ONLY 9 ?IS ?IRD S5SE ?AT DEMOCRACY CAN BE TAK5 TO IMPLY M9ORITY RI<TS1 & ONLY ( ! K9D & 9 ! CONTEXT IMPLI$ BY ! 0RULE ( LAW0 & ! P[] ( ! /ATE4 ,9 ALL ( !SE S5SES1 DEMOCRACY IS A SPECIFIC 9/ANCE ( /ATE P[] -- & NOT1 AS IMPLI$ BY SOME AN>*I/S1 A CRITIQUE ( /ATE P[] OR A =M ( AN>*Y4 ,UNCONDITIONAL RULE BY A MAJORITY CANNOT BE COMPATIBLE ) AN>*Y BECAUSE IT IMPLIES REPRESSION ON V>I\S LEVELS4 

-- ,DEMOCRACY VS ,DESIRE3 ,BEYOND ! ,POLITICS ( ,MEASURE 

 ,L&/REI*] 

0,! ,LESS] ,EVIL0 BY ,DOM9IQUE ,MISE9 EXPOSES H[ ! LOGIC ?AT IS SO BASIC TO A DEMOCRATIC SY/EM -- ! LOGIC ( COMPROMISE & NEGOTIATION1 M$IOCRITY & MAK+ DO -- COMES TO P]MEATE EV]Y ASPECT ( LIFE TO ! PO9T :]E DREAMS & DESIRES FADE1 PASSION DISAPPE>S 7:AT PASSION CAN ONE FEEL = A LESS] EVIL87 & REVOLUTION LOSES ALL MEAN+4 ,?IS DOM9ATION OV] ALL ( LIFE IS ! PURPOSE ( ! P>TICIPATORY SOCIAL SY/EM ! B\RGEOISIE IMPOS$4 ,?IS P]MEATION 9TO EV]Y ASPECT ( LIFE MAKES ! DEMOCRATIC ORD] ! MO/ SUCCESSFUL TOTALIT>IAN SOCIAL SY/EM TO EV] EXI/4 ,9 0,:O ,IS ,IT801 ,ADONIDE COMP>ES CLASSICAL DICTATOR%IPS ) ! TOTALIT>IANISM ( ! DEMOCRATIC SY/EM :]E EV]YONE CAN EXCUSE HIMSELF BECAUSE %E IS ONLY A COG 9 ?IS VA/ SOCIAL MA*9E1 & 9DIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY1 :I* IS ! BASIS = 9DIVIDUAL SELF-DET]M9ATION1 SEEMS TO DISAPPE>4 .<444.> 

,AT PRES5T1 CAPITALISM & ! SOCIO-POLITICAL SY/EM ?AT BE/ CORRESPONDS ) IT -- DEMOCRACY -- DOM9ATE ! PLANET4 ,!Y UND]M9E REAL *OICE1 CREATIVITY & SELF-ACTIVITY444ALL ?AT IS NECESS>Y = 9DIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE !IR LIVES AS !Y DESIRE & = ! EXPLOIT$ TO BE ABLE TO RISE UP 9TELLIG5TLY AGA9/ !IR EXPLOITATION4 ,= ?IS REASON1 IT IS NECESS>Y ?AT ?OSE ( US :O WANT TO MAKE \R LIVES \R [N & LIVE 9 A WORLD :]E EV]Y 9DIVIDUAL HAS ACCESS TO ALL %E NE$S TO CREATE HIS LIFE AS %E SEES FIT /OP DEM&+ ?AT ?IS SY/EM BECOME MORE ( :AT IT CLAIMS TO BE & 9/EAD />T ATTACK+ IT 9 ALL ( ITS ASPECTS 9CLUD+ ! DEMOCRATIC SY/EM 9 ORD] TO DE/ROY IT4 ,AT ?IS TIME SU* 9SURG5CE IS ! TRUE/ EXPRESSION ( REAL *OICE1 SELF-DET]M9ATION & 9DIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY4 

,& :AT ( ?OSE TIMES :5 WE NE$ TO ACT TOGE!R ) O!RS & NE$ TO DECIDE :AT TO DO8 ,9 EA* 9/ANCE1 WE WILL FIGURE \T H[ BE/ TO MAKE DECISIONS )\T TURN+ ANY SU* PROCESS 9TO A SY/EM OR AN IDEAL TO /RIVE =4 ,A DECISION-MAK+ PROCESS IS A TOOL TO BE TAK5 UP AS NE$$ & LAID D[N :5 NOT2 DEMOCRACY IS A SOCIAL SY/EM ?AT COMES TO DOM9ATE ALL ( LIFE4 

,:AT DOES DEMOCRACY LOOK LIKE8 ,! JACKBOOT ?AT Y\ VOT$ TO HAVE 9 Y\R FACE4 

-- ,?IS IS ,:AT ,DEMOCRACY ,LOOKS ,LIKE 

,! FACT ?AT DEMOCRATIC SY/EMS S]VE P[] BECOMES MORE OBVI\S :5 WE EXAM9E ! NATURE ( DEMOCRATIC P>TICIPATION4 ,DEMOCRACY />TS ) ! ASSUMPTION ?AT ! 0GOOD ( ALL0 7OR 0! GREATE/ GOOD = ! GREATE/ NUMB]07 TAKES PREC$5CE OV] ! NE$S & DESIRES ( ! 9DIVIDUAL4 ,?IS COLLECTIVI/ ASSUMPTION DATES BACK TO ! E>LY DAYS ( CAPITALISM :5 IT WAS WORK$ \T 9 ! WRIT+S ( UTILIT>IAN PHILOSOPH]S SU* AS ,JOHN ,/U>T ,MILLS & ,J]EMY ,B5?AM4 ,?US1 APOLITICAL DECISION-MAK+ PROCESS ?AT SEP>ATES DECISION FROM ACTION BECOMES NECESS>Y4 ,DECISION & EXECUTION ( ! DECISION MU/ BE SEP>AT$ 9 ORD] TO GU>ANTEE ?AT 0! GOOD ( ALL0 IS1 9DE$ :AT IS C>RI$ \T4 

,BUT :AT IS ?IS 0GOOD ( ALL08 ,9 PRACTICE1 IT C\LD JU/ AS READILY BE CALL$ 0! GOOD ( NONE04 ,)9 ! DEMOCRATIC SY/EM1 ! ME?OD = F9D+ ! 0COMMON GOOD0 IS TO BR+ ALL SIDES OR !IR REPRES5TATIVES TOGE!R TO NEGOTIATE & COME TO A COMPROMISE4 ,BUT :AT REALLY IS ! NATURE ( COMPROMISE8 ,EA* GIVES UP A LITTLE ( ?IS1 R5\NCES A LITTLE ( ?AT1 SACRIFICES A BIT ( ! O!R ?+ 7LEAV+ ASIDE ! FACT ?AT A FEW >E 9 A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SACRIFICE MU* LESS ?AN MO/71 UNTIL :ATEV] !Y MAY HAVE FIR/ DESIR$ HAS DISAPPE>$ 9 ! HAZE ( ! DEMOCRATIC 0GOOD ( ALL04 ,H]E !N IS DEMOCRATIC EQUALITY3 ,EA* LEAVES ! TABLE ( NEGOTIATION EQUALLY DISAPPO9T$1 EQUALLY RES5TFUL1 EQUALLY TAK+ SOLACE 9 ! FACT ?AT1 AT LEA/1 ! O!RS LO/ AS MU* AS ONESELF4 ,9 ! 5D IT IS ONLY ! TWO-HEAD$ HYDRA ( P[]1 ! /ATE & CAPITAL1 ?AT W9S FROM ?IS PROCESS4 .<444.> 

,OP9ION1 ! IDEA FLATT5$ & SEP>AT$ FROM REAL LIFE1 GIVES US ! ILLUSION ( FRE$OM4 ,AFT] ALL1 CAN'T ,I EXPRESS MY OP9ION8 ,CAN'T ,I HAVE MY SAY8 ,?IS IS ! SUPPOS$ BEAUTY ( DEMOCRACY4 ,! 5TIRE PROCESS BY :I* OP9ION DEVELOPS1 ?IS PROCESS ( SEP>AT+ IDEAS FROM LIFE & FLATT5+ !M 9TO ! BASIS = PUB TALK & OP9ION POLLS IS ! BASIS = ! G5]AL CONS5SUS BY :I* DEMOCRACY JU/IFIES ITSELF4 ,IT PRES5TS ITSELF AS ! ONE POLITICAL SY/EM ?AT1 UNLIKE O!R POLITICAL SY/EMS1 ALL[S ! FREE DISCUSSION AB\T ALL POLITICAL SY/EMS4 ,?AT SU* A CON/RUCTION DET]M9ES ! \TCOME ( ANY SU* DISCUSSION 9 ADVANCE %\LD BE OBVI\S4 ,:AT IS LESS OBVI\S IS ! OPTION ?AT IS LEFT \T3 ! REFUSAL ( EV]Y POLITICAL SY/EM4 

,IT %\LD BE CLE> FROM ALL ?IS ?AT !RE IS AN AG5DA BEH9D DEMOCRACY4 ,! 0COMMON GOOD0 ?AT IT WORKS = IS ACTUALLY ! GOOD ( ! PRES5T SOCIAL ORD]4 ,:AT ELSE DO WE REALLY HAVE 9 COMMON BEYOND ! FACT ?AT WE >E ALL EXPLOIT$ & DOM9AT$ BY ?IS ORD]8 ,SO ! 0COMMON GOOD01 9 FACT1 MEANS ?AT :I* IS GOOD = ! CONT9UATION ( EXPLOITATION & DOM9ATION4 ,BY DRAW+ US 9TO ! PROCESS ( FICTITI\S P>TICIPATION \TL9$ ABOVE1 DEMOCRACY BECOMES ! MO/ TRULY TOTALIT>IAN POLITICAL SY/EM ?AT HAS EV] EXI/$4 ,\R LIVES COME TO BE DEF9$ 9 T]MS ( ITS PROCESSES 9 WAYS ?AT NO O!R POLITICAL SY/EM C\LD ACCOMPLI%4 ,?IS IS :Y DEMOCRACY IS ! /ATE /RUCTURE BE/ SUIT$ TO ! NE$S ( CAPITAL4 ,CAPITAL NE$S TO P]MEATE EV]Y MOM5T ( LIFE1 TO DEF9E IT T]MS ( ! ECONOMY4 ,TO DO SO REQUIRES A TRANS=MATION 9 ! NATURE ( HUMAN BE+S1 ! TRANS=MATION ( LIV+ 9DIVIDUALS 9TO PRODUC]-CONSUM]S4 ,DEMOCRACY1 BY TRANS=M+ ! SELF-CREAT+ 9DIVIDUAL 9TO A CITIZ5 ( ! /ATE1 ?AT IS 9TO A COG 9 ! SOCIAL MA*9E1 9 FACT HELPS CAPITAL TO ACCOMPLI% ?IS PROJECT4 

,SO1 9 REALITY1 ?IS IS :AT DEMOCRACY LOOKS3 AN EMPTY EXI/5CE DEVOID ( VITALITY1 GIV5 TO ! 5DLESS REPETITION ( ! SAME ACTIVITIES NOT ( \R *OOS+1 COMP5SAT$ ) ! RI<T TO *ATT] ON & ON AB\T ?AT ON :I* WE CANNOT ACT4 ,TO W$ REVOLUTION TO ?IS PA!TIC IDEAL W\LD CREATE A MEAG] REVOLUTION4 ,TO W$ AN>*ISM TO IT W\LD RA9 ! LIFE FROM ALL \R F9E/ PASSIONS & LEAVE A /UNT$ C>ICATURE = ! AMUSEM5T ( ACADEMICS & CULTURAL !ORI/S4 ,\R REVOLUTION CAN'T GR[ FROM SU* PALTRY IDEALS2 IT MU/ SPR+ FROM ! GREAT DREAMS ( ?OSE :O WILL NOT COMPROMISE !IR LIVES4 

-- ,ESSAYS FROM ,WILLFUL ,DISOB$I5CE 

 ZIQ 

,DEMOCRACY IS ! TYRANNY ( ! MAJORITY1 H[EV] Y\ TRY TO W9D[-DRESS IT4 ,9 PRACTICE1 ALL =MS ( DEMOCRACY HAVE BE5 US$ BY A MAJORITY GR\P TO CONTROL OR O!RWISE DICTATE TO A M9ORITY GR\P4 ,ALL =MS ( DEMOCRACY HAVE BE5 US$ TO SMO!R AUTONOMY1 TO /IFLE SELF-DET]M9ATION1 & TO ABSOLVE RUL]S ( RESPONSIBILITY = !IR ACTIONS4 ,H[ CAN A RUL] BE RESPONSIBLE = !IR ATROCITIES :5 0! PEOPLE0 ELECT$ !M & EMP[]$ !M TO COMMIT ?OSE ATROCITIES8 .<444.> 

,FRUITLESS ATTEMPTS TO GET EV]YONE TO REA* ! SAME AGREEM5T IS JU/ ! LATE/ =M ( ! BUREAUCRATIC ME&]+ ?AT HAS LONG SABOTAG$ POLITICAL ACTION4 ,AFT] C\NTLESS H\RS ( HEAT$ DEBATE1 & A LONG S]IES ( COMPROMISES1 ! CONS5SUS REA*$ 7IF IT'S EV] REA*$ AT ALL7 WILL LIKELY BE V]Y WAT]$ D[N FROM ITS 9ITIAL =M & BE ( LITTLE B5EFIT TO ANYONE 9 ! GR\P4 ,A PLAN = CONCRETE ACTION WILL HAVE BE5 TURN$ 9TO A FRU/RAT+ EX]CISE 9 CONCESSION1 TEPID HALF-MEASURES1 & ULTIMATELY2 9ACTION4 ,ALL BECAUSE ! PEOPLE :O MADE ! PLAN FELT ! NE$ TO GA9 ! APPROVAL ( A COMMITTEE ( NAYSAY]S BE=E PURSU+ IT4 

,AN>*I/S ALWAYS OPPOSE MON>*Y2 ! RULE ( ONE4 ,WE ALWAYS OPPOSE OLIG>*Y2 ! RULE ( A FEW4 ,SO :Y W\LDN'T WE OPPOSE DEMOCRACY2 ! RULE ( MANY8 ,:Y %\LD ! MANY GET TO DECIDE H[ Y\ OR ,I LIVE \R LIVES8 ,A RUL] IS A RUL] IS A RUL]4 ,DEMOCRACY HAS BE5 EXP]TLY WIELD$ AS A WEAPON BY ! ELITES 9 SOCIETY4 ,BY COMB9+ DEMOCRACY ) METICUL\SLY-CRAFT$ PROPAG&A1 ! P[]FUL >E ABLE TO CONTROL VOT]S & MANIPULATE !M 9TO VOT+ AGA9/ !IR [N 9T]E/S4 

-- ,DO ,AN>*I/S ,SUPPORT ,DEMOCRACY8 

,! :OLE PO9T ( DEMOCRACY IS TO %IFT RESPONSIBILITY FROM ! 9DIVIDUAL TO ! 9TANGIBLE & 9DOMITABLE SY/EM4 ,! 9/ITUTIONS ( DEMOCRACY WORK H>D TO CONV9CE ! 9DIVIDUAL !Y HAVE NO RI<T TO SELF-DET]M9ATION BEYOND CA/+ A VOTE = ! SY/EM'S PRE-APPROV$ RUL] ,A OR PRE-APPROV$ RUL] ,B4 

,SEE1 ONLY ! SY/EM CAN PROVIDE = Y\1 CITIZ54 ,TRU/ 9 ! SY/EM4 ,! SY/EM IS GREAT4 ,DON'T FI<T ! SY/EM4 ,Y\ CAN'T DEFEAT ! SY/EM4 ,JU/ ASK ! SY/EM = FRE$OM & MAYBE Y\'LL BE GRANT$ SOME -- ,IF ! SY/EM IS FEEL+ G5]\S ANYWAY4 

-- ,DO ,AN>*I/S ,VOTE 9 ,/ATE ,ELECTIONS8 

 ,GILLIS 

0,RUL]%IP BY ! POPULACE0 IS CLE>LY A CONCEPT IRRECONCILABLE ) 0)\T RUL]%IP0 UNLESS ONE HAS ATROPHI$ TO ! PO9T ( ACCEPT+ ! NIHILISM ( LIB]ALISM & ITS MEWL+ BELIEF 9 ! 9ESCAPABILITY ( RUL]%IP4 ,OR P]HAPS EV5 GO+ SO F> AS TO JO9 ) FASCI/S & O!R AU?ORIT>IANS :O SIL5CE !IR CONSCI5CE ) ! IDEOLOGICAL ASS]TION ?AT ONE CANNOT EV5 LIMIT P[] RELATIONS1 ONLY RE>RANGE !M4 .<444.> 

,?OSE CLAIM+ ?AT DEMOCRACY & AN>*Y CAN BE RECONCIL$ SEEM TO EI!R BE RHETORICAL OPPORTUNI/S -- GRAVELY MI/AK5 AB\T :AT !Y CAN & %\LD LEV]AGE -- OR ELSE !Y SEEM GRAVELY \T ( ALIGNM5T ) AN>*ISM'S ASPIRATIONS1 TREAT+ 0)\T RUL]%IP0 NOT AS A GUID+ /> BUT A NONCOMMITTAL H&WAVE4 .<444.> 

,LET US BE CLE>2 IF AN>*Y MEANS ANY?+ ( SUB/ANCE !N MANY ( !SE PEOPLE >E NOT REALLY AN>*I/S4 ,AT LEA/ NOT YET6 ,!Y DO NOT BELIEVE AN>*Y IS A*IEVABLE OR EV5 ?9KABLE4 ,& ?IS IS REFLECT$ 9 !IR [N FREQU5T AV]SION &_/OR EQUIVOCATION 9 RELATION TO ! T]M 0AN>*Y10 GRAVITAT+ MORE TO SOME POSITIVE ASSOCIATIONS !Y HAVE SE5 MADE ) IT ?AN ! UND]LY+ CONCEPT ( A WORLD TRULY )\T RUL]%IP4 ,COMP>$ TO \R PRES5T SOCIETY !Y WANT ! ?+S (T5 ASSOCIAT$ ) AN>*ISM )\T ! CORE ?AT DRAWS !M4 ,I WAS -- = A TIME -- HOPEFUL ?AT SU* 9DIVIDUALS W\LD MOVE TO ! MU* MORE OP5 T]M 0HORIZONTALI/40 ,9 TRU? !Y'D BE BETT] DESCRIB$ AS M9>*I/ SOCIAL DEMOCRATS1 :O WANT A CUDDLI]1 FRI5DLI]1 FLATT]1 MORE LOCAL & RESPONSIVE /ATE ?AT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL LIKE HAPPY P>TICIPANTS & DOESN'T 5GAGE 9 WORLD HI/ORIC ATROCITIES4 .<444.> 

,IF AN>*ISM IS TO MEAN ANY?+ ( SUB/ANCE1 IT IS SURELY NOT M]ELY AN OP5+ BID FROM :I* Y\ >E HAPPY TO SETTLE4 ,AN>*Y DOESN'T /& = SMALL AM\NTS ( DOM9ATION3 IT /&S = NO DOM9ATION4 ,AL?\< \R APPROA* TO ?AT IDEAL WILL SURELY BE ASYMPTOTIC1 ! :OLE PO9T ( AN>*ISM IS TO ACTUALLY PURSUE IT RA!R ?AN GIVE UP & SETTLE = SOME >BITR>Y 0GOOD 5\<0 HALF-MEASURE4 ,SU* TEPID ASPIRATIONS IS :AT HAS HI/ORICALLY DEF9$ LIB]ALS & SOCIAL DEMOCRATS 9 CONTRA/ TO US4 

,BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO FUR!R1 BECAUSE 0DEMOCRACY0 DOESN'T SOLELY POSE A DANG] ( HALF-MEASURES BUT ALSO ( A UNIQUE DIM5SION ( AU?ORIT>IANISM4 ,A PURE EXPRESSION ( 0! RULE ( ALL OV] ALL0 C\LD BE A HELL ( A LOT WORSE ?AN 0,SW$5 ) ,NEI<BORHOOD ,ASSEMBLIES40 ,! ETYMOLOGY ITSELF SEEMS TO BE/ REFLECT A NI<TM>E SC5>IO 9 :I* EV]YONE CON/RA9S & DOM9ATES EV]YONE ELSE4 ,IF WE SEEK TO MAT* WORDS TO ! MO/ DI/9CT & COH]5T CONCEPTS !N P]HAPS ! TRUE/ EXPRESSION ( 0DEMO-CRACY0 W\LD BE A WORLD :]E EV]YONE IS *A9$ D[N BY EV]YONE ELSE1 TI<T5+ \R GRIP ON \R NEI<BORS JU/ AS !Y 9 TURN *OKE ! FRE$OM FROM \R LUNGS4 

-- ,! ,ABOLITION ,( ,RUL]%IP ,OR ,! ,RULE ,( ,ALL ,OV] ,ALL8 

 ,M>L9ESPIKE @& ,H>T 

,AN>*I/S DI/+UI% !MSELVES BY ASS]T+ A DIRECT & UNOB/RUCT$ L9K BETWE5 ?\<T & ACTION1 BETWE5 DESIRES & !IR FREE FULFILLM5T4 ,WE REJECT ALL SOCIETAL PROCESSES ?AT BREAK ?AT L9K--SU* AS PRIVATE PROP]TY1 EX*ANGE RELATIONS1 DIVISION ( LABOR1 & DEMOCRACY4 ,WE CALL ?AT BROK5 L9K ALI5ATION4 

,PASSIONS & DESIRES CAN ONLY BE A DELI<T :5 !Y >E REAL & DEF9ITE =CES 9 \R LIVES4 ,9 ?IS CONDITION ( ALI5ATION1 H[EV]1 !Y >E 9EVITABLY MUT$ BY ! KN[L$GE ?AT ! CONDITIONS ( \R EXI/5CE >E NOT UND] \R CONTROL4 ,9 ?IS CONTEXT1 DREAMS >E ONLY = DREAM]S1 BECAUSE \R DESIRES >E CON/ANTLY FAC$ ) ! IMPOSSIBILITY ( ACTION4 ,9 ?IS S9I/] WAY1 :5 WE LOSE \R CONNECTION ) ! DESIRES & PASSIONS ?AT DRIVE US =W>D1 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WRE/ BACK CONTROL ( \R LIVES & WE >E LEFT TO L+] 9 A CONDITION ( PASSIVITY4 ,EV5 ! DESIRE TO *ANGE ! MAT]IAL & SOCIETAL CONDITIONS ?AT FUNCTION ON ALI5ATION IS MET ) ?IS PASSIVITY & HOPELESSNESS1 ESS5TIALLY LEAV+ !M 9TACT4 

,SOCIETY ?US 5DS UP DIVID$ 9TO ! ALI5AT$1 :OSE CAPACITY TO CREATE !IR LIVES AS !Y SEE FIT HAS BE5 TAK5 FROM !M1 & ?OSE 9 CONTROL ( !SE PROCESSES1 :O B5EFIT FROM ?IS SEP>ATION BY ACCUMULAT+ & CONTROLL+ ALI5AT$ 5]GY 9 ORD] TO REPRODUCE ! CURR5T SOCIETY & !IR [N ROLE AS ITS RUL]S4 .<444.> 

,SO AT HE>T1 WE >E AGA9/ DEMOCRACY BECAUSE ITS V]Y EXI/5CE MA9TA9S ?IS DIVISION ?AT WE'RE SEEK+ TO ABOLI%4 ,DEMOCRACY DOES NO?+ BUT MA9TA9 ! EXI/5CE ( ALI5AT$ P[]1 S9CE IT REQUIRES ?AT \R DESIRES BE SEP>ATE FROM \R P[] TO ACT1 & ANY ATTEMPTS TO 5GAGE 9 ?AT SY/EM WILL ONLY S]VE TO REPRODUCE IT4 ,DEMOCRACIES ( ANY TYPE MAKE DECISIONS VIA ELECTIONS1 ! V]Y ESS5CE ( :I* TRANSF]S ONE'S WILL1 ?\<T1 AUTONOMY1 & FRE$OM TO AN \TSIDE P[]4 ,IT MAKES NO DIFF]5CE :E!R ONE TRANSF]S ?AT P[] TO AN ELECT$ REPRES5TATIVE OR TO AN ELUSIVE MAJORITY4 ,! PO9T IS ?AT IT'S NO LONG] Y\R [N4 ,DEMOCRACY HAS GIV5 IT TO ! MAJORITY4 ,Y\ HAVE BE5 ALI5AT$ FROM Y\R CAPACITY TO DET]M9E ! CONDITIONS ( Y\R EXI/5CE 9 FREE COOP]ATION ) ?OSE >\ND Y\4 

,!RE IS AN IMPORTANT DI/9CTION H]E4 ,P>TIES >E POLITICAL 9 !IR CLAIM TO REPRES5T ! 9T]E/S ( O!RS4 ,?IS IS A CLAIM TO ALI5AT$ P[]1 BECAUSE :5 SOMEONE TAKES P[] ) A CLAIM TO REPRES5T ME1 ,I AM SEP>AT$ FROM MY [N FRE$OM TO ACT4 ,9 ?IS S5SE1 AN>*I/S >E ANTI-POLITICAL4 ,WE >E NOT 9T]E/$ 9 A DIFF]5T CLAIM TO ALI5AT$ P[]1 9 A DIFF]5T LEAD]%IP1 9 ANO!R =M ( REPRES5TATION1 9 A REGIME *ANGE1 OR 9 ANY?+ ?AT M]ELY %UFFLES >\ND ! MAKEUP ( ALI5AT$ P[]4 ,ANY TIME SOMEONE CLAIMS TO REPRES5T Y\ OR TO BE Y\R LIB]ATORY =CE1 ?AT %\LD BE A DEF9ITE R$ FLAG4 ,WE >E ANTI-POLITICAL BECAUSE WE >E 9T]E/$ 9 ! SELF-ORGANIZATION ( ! P[] ( 9DIVIDUALS4 ,?IS T5SION T[>DS SELF-ORGANIZATION IS COMPLETELY OR?OGONAL TO DEMOCRACY 9 ANY ( ITS V>I\S =MS4.<444.> 

,:5 DEMOCRACY FRAMES \R DISCUSSION & =CES US TO >GUE 9 ITS T]MS1 ALL ACTIONS TO *ANGE ! SOCIO-POLITICAL 5VIRONM5T MU/ HAPP5 VIA ITS MEANS & A*IEVE ONLY ?OSE 5DS IT WILL SANCTION4 ,= !SE REASONS1 DEMOCRACY REPRODUCES ITSELF ) LITTLE SPECIAL EF=T FROM ! RUL+ CLASS4 ,A DEMOCRATIC SY/EM ( 0MAJORITY RULE0 5C\RAGES ! ALI5AT$ & EXPLOIT$ CLASS TO FEEL LIKE !Y HAVE CONTROL :ILE IT ACTUALLY REMA9S SAFELY 9 ! H&S ( ! ALI5AT+ & EXPLOIT+ CLASS4 ,EV5 ! MO/ OBVI\S CONTRADICTIONS GET OV]LOOK$ BECAUSE ! SY/EM HAS EQUAT$ ITS EXI/5CE ) FRE$OM & SO PLACES ITS EXI/5CE \TSIDE ! REALM ( CONTE/ABLE IDEAS4 ,BY CLAIM+ ITSELF AS A PRIORI OR ! FIR/ PR9CIPLE ( 9DIVIDUAL & SOCIAL LIB]TY1 DEMOCRACY APPE>S LIKE A TOL]ANT & PLIABLE S\RCE ( ! PUBLIC GOOD BEYOND ALL SCRUT9Y4 

-- ,AN ,AN>*I/ ,CRITIQUE ( ,DEMOCRACY 

 ,ANONYM\S 

,DEMOCRACY1 ! MO/ WIDESPREAD CONTEMPOR>Y =M ( POLITICAL DOM9ATION 7AS ! PRIM>Y & MO/ SOPHI/ICAT$ EXPRESSION ( ! ,/ATE71 CON/ITUT+ AN AU?ORIT>IAN1 BUCK-PASS+1 SUBMISSIVE M5TALITY1 & ! IDEAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK = ! DEVELOPM5T ( ! CAPITALI/ ECONOMY1 :I* IS ! S\RCE ( EXPLOITATION & POV]TY4 

,IT IS = !SE REASONS1 & FAC$ ) ! DISQUIET+ DEM&S = MORE & BETT] DEMOCRACY FROM MANY SECTORS ?AT HAVE 9 REC5T YE>S 9CREAS+LY BEGUN TO 5GAGE 9 PROTE/ & DISOB$I5CE - DEM&S ?AT ALMO/ ALWAYS 5D UP SUBSUM+ REAL & RADICAL /RUGGLES - ?AT = A FEW YE>S N[ WE HAVE BE5 CONDUCT+ A CAMPAIGN AGA9/ ?IS DOM9AT+ & DOME/ICAT+ MON/ROSITY REF]R$ TO AS DEMOCRACY4 .<444.> 

,DEMOCRACY JU/IFIES ITSELF BAS$ ON C]TA9 PR9CIPLES ?AT >E NO LESS FALSE = HAV+ BE5 REPEAT$ A ?\S& TIMES AS TRU?S1 & ITS JU/IFICATION IS SO 9T]NALIZ$ ?AT EV5 ITS OPPON5TS BELIEVE 9 ITS PR9CIPLES4 ,CONSID]+ H[ +RA9$ & IMMOBILE ! IDEA ( ?IS SY/EM'S FUNDAM5TAL GOODNESS IS 9 ! PEOPLE'S ?9K+1 *ANGE SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE2 NOBODY SEEMS TO BE SUGGE/+ ANY O!R ORGANIZATIONAL =MS !SE DAYS1 OR EV5 O!R WAYS ( LIFE4 

-- ,AGA9/ ,DEMOCRACY 

 ,GELD]LOOS 

,H[ ABSURD IS IT TO TALK AB\T FRE$OM & DEMOCRACY TO SOMEONE :O WAS BORN 9 A <ETTO1 OR SOMEONE :O JU/ IMMIGRAT$ TO ESCAPE POV]TY OR P]SECUTION1 SOMEONE :O NEV] GOT ! OPPORTUNITY = A GOOD $UCATION & WORKS EI<TY H\RS A WEEK 9 GRUEL+1 DANG]\S JOB ) NO DIGNITY OR RESPECT JU/ TO AF=D PAYM5TS ON A *EAP HOVEL & A MEAG] DIET8 .<444.> 

,IT IS EASY1 H[EV]1 TO DISMISS !SE CLAIMS ( P[]LESSNESS & RECURR+ 9JU/ICE BY SIMPLY BLAM+ ! VICTIMS = BE+ TOO LAZY TO DRAG !MSELVES \T ( POV]TY1 OR TO MAKE ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WORK = !M1 ?R\< PETITION+1 VOT+1 LETT]-WRIT+1 & ALL ! O!R READILY AVAILABLE ME?ODS1 TO CURE ! ALLEG$ 9JU/ICE4 ,( C\RSE1 IT W\LD BE MORE ?AN A LITTLE LUDICR\S = ! PRIVILEG$1 :ITE PUNDITS :O GUIDE ! NATION'S OP9IONS FROM !IR TALK %[S & OP9ION COLUMNS TO BLAME PEOPLE BORN 9 <ETTOS = NOT OV]COM+ RACISM & POV]TY IF !Y DIDN'T HAVE AT LEA/ A FEW HI/ORICAL EXAMPLES ( H[ DEMOCRACY CAN ACTUALLY WORK TO HELP PEOPLE 9 NE$4 ,BUT \R HI/ORY BOOKS >E FULL ( EXAMPLES ( OPPRESS$ GR\PS ( PEOPLE W9N+ !IR EQUALITY ?R\< ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS4 ,EV]YBODY KN[S ! /ORY ( ,M>T9 ,LU!R ,K+ & ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T1 & AS ANY GRADE-S*OOL] CAN TELL Y\1 ?IS /ORY HAS A HAPPY 5D+1 BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE WON !IR RI<TS4 ,9 ! FACE ( AGE-OLD PREJUDICES1 ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS PREVAIL$4 ,OR DID IT8 

,9 FACT1 ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS HAD ALREADY SUCCE$$ 9 (FICIALLY DEFEAT+ RACISM WAY BACK 9 ! #a#i? C5TURY1 :5 \R GOV]NM5T GRANT$ FULL LEGAL RI<TS REG>DLESS ( RACE1 ON PAP] AT LEA/4 ,& 9 #a#i#e#d1 A FULL DECADE BE=E ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T WAS AT ITS /RONGE/1 ! ,SUPREME ,C\RT ORD]$ ! RECOGNITION ( ?OSE LEGAL RI<TS1 9 RESPONSE TO ! TIRELESS WORK1 )9 LEGAL DEMOCRATIC *ANNELS1 ( ! ,N,A,A,C,P & O!R ORGANIZATIONS4 ,BUT /ILL1 !RE WAS NO REAL *ANGE 9 ! RACE RELATIONS ( ,AM]ICA4 ,ALL ! RE=MS WON ?R\< ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS W]E SYMBOLIC4 ,IT WAS NOT UNTIL BLACK PEOPLE TOOK TO ! /REETS1 (T5 ILLEGALLY1 \TSIDE ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS1 ?AT :AT WE N[ KN[ AS ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T CAME 9TO FULL =M4 ,! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T US$ ILLEGAL ACTIVISM 70CIVIL DISOB$I5CE07 9 T&EM ) LEGAL PRESSURE ON ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO BR+ AB\T *ANGE1 & EV5 !N IT WAS NOT UNTIL RACE RIOTS OCCURR$ 9 NE>LY EV]Y MAJOR CITY & MORE MILITANT BLACK ORGANIZATIONS =M$ ?AT ! :ITE POLITICAL APP>ATUS />T$ COOP]AT+ ) PACIFI/1 MIDDLE-CLASS ELEM5TS ( ! MOVEM5T1 LIKE ,M>T9 ,LU!R ,K+1 ,JR4'S ,S\!RN ,*RI/IAN ,LEAD]%IP ,CONF]5CE4 

,& :AT WAS ! \TCOME ( ?AT POLITICAL COMPROMISE8 ,PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 ,AM]ICA /ILL FACE HI<] UNEMPLOYM5T1 L[] WAGES1 LESS ACCESS TO GOOD H\S+ & HEAL? C>E1 HI<] 9FANT MORTALITY1 L[] LIFE EXPECTANCY1 HI<] RATES ( 9C>C]ATION & POLICE BRUTALITY1 DISPROPORTIONATELY L[] REPRES5TATION 9 GOV]NM5T1 CORPORATE LEAD]%IP1 & ! M$IA 7EXCEPT AS VILLA9S 9 ,HOLLYWOOD OR CULPRITS ON ! ,T,V-%[ ,C,O,P,S74 ,9 FACT1 ,DR4 ,K5NE? ,CL>K1 :OSE WORK ON ! PSY*OLOGICAL EFFECTS ( SEGREGATION ON BLACK S*OOL *ILDR5 WAS 9/RUM5TAL TO ! ,BR[N V4 ,BO>D ( ,$UCATION VICTORY 9 #a#i#e#d1 /AT$ 9 #aiid ?AT ,AM]ICAN S*OOLS W]E MORE SEGREGAT$ ?AN !Y HAD BE5 =TY YE>S E>LI]4 ,:ITE SUPREMACY /ILL EXI/S 9 EV]Y >5A ( ,AM]ICAN LIFE4 

,:AT EXACTLY DID ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T A*IEVE8 ,ADVANCEM5T 9TO ! :ITE-DOM9AT$ 9/ITUTIONS HAS BE5 OP5$ UP = A V]Y SMALL NUMB] ( BLACKS1 ,LAT9OS1 & ,ASIANS1 P>TICUL>LY ?OSE :O EMBRACE ! CONS]VATIVE IDEOLOGY ( ! :ITE-SUPREMACI/ /ATUS QUO1 LIKE ,SUPREME ,C\RT ,JU/ICE ,CL>5CE ,?OMAS1 :O OPPOSES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OR O!R LEGAL MEASURES ?AT ALLEVIATE RACIAL 9EQUALITY1 OR ,G5]AL ,COL9 ,P[ELL1 :O IS WILL+ TO BOMB PEOPLE ( COLOR 9 =EIGN C\NTRIES ) A TOTAL DISREG>D = !IR LIVES4 ,SO1 ,M>T9 ,LU!R ,K+ IS DEAD1 BUT HIS DREAM LIVES ON 9 ! DISPROPORTIONATELY SMALL H&FUL ( BLACK & ,LAT9O CONGRESSPEOPLE1 ! ONE OR TWO ,C,E,OS ( COLOR 9 ! ,=TUNE #e1 & ! OCCASIONAL TELEVISION %[ ?AT DEPICTS WELL-(F1 MIDDLE CLASS BLACK FAMILIES LIKE ! ,COSBY'S1 UNTR\BL$ BY POLICE BRUTALITY OR ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION4 

,! GOV]NM5T HAS RETA9$ ITS :ITE SUPREMACI/ *>ACT]1 & MORE IMPORTANTLY1 IT IS MORE P[]FUL N[ ?AN IT WAS BE=E ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T1 BECAUSE IT HAS L>GELY REMOV$ ! ?REAT ( RACIAL /RIFE & OPPRESSION-MOTIVAT$ UPRIS+2 A FEW TOK5 PEOPLE ( COLOR RISE TO POSITIONS ( P[]1 PROVID+ ! ILLUSION ( EQUALITY1 BUT POPULATIONS ( COLOR ON ! :OLE REMA9 A *EAP POOL ( SURPLUS LABOR TO BE US$ & ABUS$ BY ! SY/EM AS NE$$4 ,SO :5 WE CONSID] H[ ! GOV]NM5T ACTUALLY RESPOND$ TO ! ,CIVIL ,RI<TS MOVEM5T1 & :AT SORTS ( *ANGES HAVE OCCURR$ 9 \R SOCIETY AS A RESULT1 IT BECOMES APP>5T ?AT ! DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WAS MORE EFFECTIVE AT RESCU+ ?OSE 9 P[] FROM A POT5TIAL EM]G5CY ?AN AT GRANT+ ANY REAL RELIEF OR MEAN+FUL LIB]ATION TO AN OPPRESS$ GR\P ( PEOPLE4 .<444.> 

,AT ITS BASE1 DEMOCRACY IS AN AU?ORIT>IAN1 ELITI/ SY/EM ( GOV]NM5T DESIGN$ TO CRAFT AN EFFECTIVE RUL+ COALITION :ILE CREAT+ ! ILLUSION ?AT ! SUBJECTS >E 9 FACT EQUAL MEMB]S ( SOCIETY1 ?US 9 CONTROL (1 OR AT LEA/ B5EVOL5TLY REPRES5T$ BY1 GOV]NM5T POLICY4 ,! FUNDAM5TAL PURPOSE ( A DEMOCRACY1 SAME AS ANY O!R GOV]NM5T1 IS TO MA9TA9 ! WEAL? & P[] ( ! RUL+ CLASS4 ,DEMOCRACY IS 9NOVATIVE 9 ?AT IT ALL[S A GREAT] DIV]SITY ( RUL+ CLASS VOICES TO ADVOCATE V>I\S /RATEGIES ( CONTROL1 & 0PROGRESSIVE0 9 ?AT IT ALL[S = ADAPTATION TO MA9TA9 CONTROL UND] *ANG+ CIRCUM/ANCES4 

,! SURE/ WAY TO TE/ ?IS HYPO!SIS IS TO OBS]VE HI/ORICAL EXAMPLES 9 :I* OPPRESS$ OR UND]PRIVILEG$ CITIZ5S ( A DEMOCRACY HAVE ADVOCAT$ !IR [N 9T]E/S1 9 CONTRADICTION TO ! 9T]E/S ( ! WEAL?Y & P[]FUL4 ,IF ! LIB]AL MY?OLOGY CONC]N+ DEMOCRACY IS CORRECT1 ! OPPRESS$ WILL BE FAIRLY REPRES5T$1 POLITICAL REPRES5TATIVES WILL ADVOCATE !IR CAUSE1 & SOME EQUITABLE COMPROMISE WILL BE REA*$ BETWE5 ! PRIVILEG$ & ! OPPRESS$4 ,IF PROGRESSIVES & O!R RE=MI/S >E CORRECT 9 !IR BELIEF ?AT ! SY/EM IS FUNDAM5TALLY S\ND BUT CORRUPT$ ?R\< V>I\S CAUSES ?AT CAN BE SOLV$ ) ! APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION1 !N ! WEAL?Y & P[]FUL WILL RECEIVE UNFAIR ADVANTAGES 9 ! LEGISLATIVE & JUDICIAL PROCESSES SET 9 MOTION TO A*IEVE JU/ICE4 ,IF \R HYPO!SIS POSIT+ ! AU?ORIT>IAN1 ELITI/ NATURE ( DEMOCRACY IS CORRECT1 !N ! MANY 9/ITUTIONS ( P[] WILL COLLABORATE TO DIVIDE ! OPPOSITION1 W9 OV] RE=MI/ ELEM5TS1 & CRU% ! REMA9+ OPPOSITION TO RETA9 CONTROL ) :ATEV] MEANS NECESS>Y1 9CLUD+ PROPAG&A1 SL&]1 H>ASSM5T1 ASSAULT1 IMPRISONM5T ON FALSE *>GES1 & ASSASS9ATION4 

-- ,:AT IS ,DEMOCRACY8 

,FROM ! V]Y ORIG9S ( ! DEMOCRATIC CONCEPT1 0RULE BY ! PEOPLE0 HAS ALWAYS BE5 A WAY TO 9CREASE P>TICIPATION 9 ! PROJECT ( GOV]NM5T1 & 0! PEOPLE0 HAVE ALWAYS EXCLUD$ CLASSES ( SLAVES & =EIGN]S1 :E!R 9SIDE OR \TSIDE ( NATIONAL B\ND>IES4 ,! QUE/ION ( FRE$OM LIES NOT 9 :O RULES1 BUT :E!R ANYONE IS RUL$1 OR :E!R ALL >E SELF-ORGANIZ+4 

-- ,REFLECTIONS = ! ,U,S ,OCCUPY ,MOVEM5T 

,PEOPLE NE$ TO GET IT \T ( !IR HEADS ?AT DEMOCRACY IS A GOOD ?+4 ,REAL DEMOCRACY DOES NOT PRECLUDE SLAV]Y4 ,REAL DEMOCRACY MEANS CAPITALISM4 ,REAL DEMOCRACY MEANS PATRI>*Y & MILIT>ISM4 ,DEMOCRACY HAS ALWAYS 9VOLV$ !SE ?+S4 ,!RE IS NO ACCURATE HI/ORY ( DEMOCRACY ?AT CAN FURNI% US AN EXAMPLE TO ! CONTR>Y4 

-- ,DIAGNO/IC ( ! ,FUTURE 

 ,GORDON 

,HI/ORICALLY1 DEMOCRACY WAS NOT A WORD ?AT AN>*I/S T5D$ TO USE 9 REF]5CE TO !IR [N VISIONS OR PRACTICES4 ,A SURVEY ( ! WRIT+S ( ! PROM95T AN>*I/ ACTIVI/S & !ORI/S ( ! #a#i? & E>LY #b? C5TURY REVEALS ?AT1 ON ! R>E OCCASIONS ON :I* !Y EV5 EMPLOY$ ! T]M1 IT WAS US$ 9 ITS CONV5TIONAL1 /ATI/ S5SE TO REF] TO ACTUALLY-EXI/+ DEMOCRATIC 9/ITUTIONS & 5TITLEM5TS )9 ! B\RGEOIS /ATE4 .<444.> ,! ASSOCIATION BETWE5 AN>*ISM & DEMOCRACY MAKES ITS APPE>ANCE ONLY >\ND ! #a#i#hS1 ?R\< ! WRIT+S ( ,MURRAY ,BOOK*94 

,ESS5TIALLY1 ! ASSOCIATION ( AN>*ISM ) DEMOCRACY IS A TWO-PRONG$ RHETORICAL MANEUV] 9T5D$ TO 9CREASE ! APPEAL ( AN>*ISM = MA9/REAM PUBLICS4 ,! FIR/ COMPON5T ( ! MANEUV] IS TO LAT* ONTO ! EXI/+ POSITIVE CONNOTATIONS ?AT DEMOCRACY C>RIES 9 E/ABLI%$ POLITICAL LANGUAGE4 ,9/EAD ( ! NEGATIVE 7& FALSE7 IMAGE ( AN>*ISM AS M9DLESS & *AOTIC1 A POSITIVE IMAGE IS FO/]$ BY RID+ ON ! COATTAILS ( 0DEMOCRACY0 AS A WIDELY-5DORS$ T]M 9 ! MASS M$IA1 $UCATIONAL SY/EM1 & EV]YDAY SPEE*4 ,! APPEAL H]E IS NOT TO ANY SPECIFIC SET ( 9/ITUTIONS OR DECISION-MAK+ PROC$URES1 BUT TO ! ASSOCIATION ( DEMOCRACY ) FRE$OM1 EQUALITY1 & SOLID>ITY--TO ! S5TIM5TS ?AT GO TO WORK :5 DEMOCRACY IS PLAC$ 9 B9>Y OPPOSITION TO DICTATOR%IP1 & CELEBRAT$ AS :AT DI/+UI%ES ! 0FREE C\NTRIES0 ( ! ,WE/ FROM O!R REGIMES4 

,YET ! SECOND COMPON5T ( ! MANEUV] IS SUBV]SIVE3 IT SEEKS TO PORTRAY CURR5T CAPITALI/ SOCIETIES AS NOT1 9 FACT1 DEMOCRATIC1 S9CE !Y ALI5ATE DECISION-MAK+ P[] FROM ! PEOPLE & PLACE IT 9 ! H&S ( ELITES4 ,?IS AM\NTS TO AN >GUM5T ?AT ! 9/ITUTIONS & PROC$URES ?AT MA9/REAM AUDI5CES ASSOCIATE ) DEMOCRACY--GOV]NM5T BY REPRES5TATIVES-->E NOT 9 FACT DEMOCRATIC1 OR AT LEA/ A V]Y PALE & LIMIT$ FULFILLM5T ( ! VALUES !Y >E SAID TO EMBODY4 ,TRUE DEMOCRACY1 9 ?IS ACC\NT1 CAN ONLY BE LOCAL1 DIRECT1 P>TICIPATORY1 & DELIB]ATIVE1 & IS ULTIMATELY A*IEVABLE ONLY 9 A /ATELESS & CLASSLESS SOCIETY4 ,! RHETORICAL AIM ( ! MANEUV] AS A :OLE IS TO G5]ATE 9 ! AUDI5CE A S5SE ( 9DIGNATION AT HAV+ BE5 DECEIV$3 :ILE ! EMOTIONAL ATTA*M5T TO 0DEMOCRACY0 IS CONFIRM$1 ! BELIEF ?AT IT ACTUALLY EXI/S IS D5I$4 

,N[ !RE >E TWO PROBLEMS ) ?IS MANEUV]1 ONE CONCEPTUAL & ONE MORE SUB/ANTIVE4 ,! CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM IS ?AT IT 9TRODUCES A TRULY IDIOSYNCRATIC NOTION ( DEMOCRACY1 SO AMBITI\S AS TO DISQUALIFY ALMO/ ALL POLITICAL EXP]I5CES ?AT FALL UND] ! COMMON UND]/&+ ( ! T]M--9CLUD+ ALL ELECTORAL SY/EMS 9 :I* REPRES5TATIVES DO NOT HAVE A /RICT M&ATE & >E NOT IMM$IATELY RECALLABLE4 ,BY CLAIM+ ?AT CURR5T 0DEMOCRATIC0 REGIMES >E 9 FACT NOT DEMOCRATIC AT ALL & ?AT ! ONLY DEMOCRACY WOR?Y ( ! NAME IS ACTUALLY SOME V]SION ( AN AN>*I/ SOCIETY1 AN>*I/S >E ASK+ PEOPLE TO RECONFIGURE !IR UND]/&+ ( DEMOCRACY 9 A RA!R EXTREME WAY4 ,:ILE IT IS POSSIBLE TO MA9TA9 ?IS NEW USAGE ) LOGICAL COH]5CE1 IT IS NEV]!LESS SO R>EFI$ & CONTR>Y TO ! COMMON USAGE ?AT ITS POT5TIAL AS A PIVOT = MA9/REAM OP9ION IS HI<LY QUE/IONABLE4 

,! SECOND PROBLEM IS GRAV]4 ,:ILE ! ASSOCIATION ) DEMOCRACY MAY SEEK TO APPEAL ONLY TO ITS EGALIT>IAN & LIB]T>IAN CONNOTATIONS1 IT ALSO 5TANGLES AN>*ISM ) ! PATRIOTIC NATURE ( ! PRIDE 9 DEMOCRACY :I* IT SEEKS TO SUBV]T4 ,! APPEAL IS NOT SIMPLY TO AN AB/RACT DESIGN = P>TICIPATORY 9/ITUTIONS1 BUT TO P>TICIPATORY 9/ITUTIONS RECOV]$ FROM ! ,AM]ICAN REVOLUTION>Y TRADITION4 ,BOOK*9 IS QUITE EXPLICIT AB\T ?IS1 :5 HE CALLS ON AN>*I/S TO 0/>T SPEAK+ 9 ! VOCABUL>Y ( ! DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONS0 :ILE UNE>?+ & 5L>G+ !IR LIB]T>IAN CONT5T4 

,! APPEAL TO ! CONS5SUS VIEW ( ! ,AM]ICAN POLITY AS F\ND$ 9 A POPUL> & DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION1 G5U9ELY ANIMAT$ BY FRE$OM & EQUALITY1 IS PRECISELY 9T5D$ TO T>GET EXI/+ PATRIOTIC S5TIM5TS1 EV5 AS IT EMPHASIZES !IR SUBV]SIVE CONSEQU5CES4 ,MIL/E9 EV5 9VOKES ,ABRAHAM ,L9COLN'S ,GETTYSBURG ,ADDRESS :5 %E CRITICIZES RE=MI/ AG5DAS :I* 0WORK ) A CIRCUMSCRIB$ & NEUTRALIZ$ NOTION ( DEMOCRACY1 :]E DEMOCRACY IS NEI!R ( ! PEOPLE1 BY ! PEOPLE1 NOR = ! PEOPLE1 BUT RA!R1 ONLY 9 ! SUPPOS$ NAME ( ! PEOPLE40 ,YET ?IS IS A DANG]\S MOVE1 S9CE IT RELIES ON A SELF-LIMIT+ CRITIQUE ( ! PATRIOTIC S5TIM5T ITSELF1 & ALL[S ! F\NDATION MY?S TO :I* IT APPEALS TO REMA9 UNT\*$ BY CRITIQUES ( MANUFACTUR$ COLLECTIVE ID5TITY & COLONIAL EXCLUSION4 ,:ILE NOT+ ! NE$ NOT TO :ITEWA% ! RACIAL1 G5D]$1 & O!R 9JU/ICES ?AT W]E P>T ( 0! HI/ORIC EV5T ?AT CREAT$ ?IS C\NTRY10 ,MIL/E9 CAN ONLY (F] AN UNSPECIFIC EXHORTATION TO 0GRAPPLE ) ! RELATION BETWE5 ?IS OPPRESSION & ! LIB]ATORY MOM5TS ( ! ,AM]ICAN ,REVOLUTION40 

,YET GIV5 ?AT ! APPEAL IS T>GET$ AT NON-AN>*I/ P>TICIPANTS1 !RE IS LITTLE IF ANY GU>ANTEE ?AT SU* A GRAPPL+ W\LD ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE4 ,! PATRIOTIC S5TIM5T APPEAL$ TO H]E IS MORE (T5 ?AN NOT A COMPON5T ( A L>G] NATIONALI/ N>RATIVE1 ONE ?AT H>DLY P>TAKES ( A DECOLONIAL CRITIQUE 7:I* BY ITSELF W\LD HAVE MANY QUE/IONS AB\T ! ,WE/]N 5LI<T5M5T ROOTS ( NOTIONS ( CITIZ5%IP & ! PUBLIC SPH]E74 ,! CELEBRATION ( DEMOCRACY 9 T]MS ?AT DIRECTLY 9VOKE ! E>LY DAYS ( ! ,AM]ICAN POLITY MAY 5D UP RE9=C+ RA!R ?AN QUE/ION+ LOYALTIES TO ! NATION-/ATE4 .<444.> 

,?US WE RETURN TO ! MA9 PO9T3 = AN>*I/S 9 ! ,U,S,A & ,WE/]N ,EUROPE1 AT LEA/1 ! *OICE TO USE ! LANGUAGE ( DEMOCRACY IS BAS$ ON ! DESIRE TO MOBILIZE & SUBV]T A =M ( PATRIOTISM ?AT IS ULTIMATELY E/ABLI%M5T-FRI5DLY2 IT RISKS CEM5T+ ! NATIONALI/ S5TIM5TS IT SEEKS TO UND]M9E4 ,AN>*I/S HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PUBLIC IMAGE PROBLEM4 ,TRY+ TO UNDO IT ?R\< ! CONNECTION TO MA9/REAM DEMOCRATIC & NATIONALI/ S5TIM5TS IS NOT WOR? ?IS RISK4 

-- ,DEMOCRACY3 ,! ,PATRIOTIC ,TEMPTATION 

 ,SAGRIS 

,DEMOCRACY KEEPS Y\ AFRAID1 AFRAID ( ! 5EMIES ( DEMOCRACY ?AT HAVE HIDD5 )9 Y\R TRIBE1 Y\R DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY1 Y\R NATION4 ,DEMOCRACY CREAT$ BORD]S 9 Y\R LIFE & N[ Y\ HAVE TO PROTECT !SE BORD]S ) Y\R [N BODY4 ,! BORD]S >E IMAG9>Y1 SOCIAL 9V5TIONS1 BUT Y\R DEAD BODY ON ! BATTLEGR\ND IS REAL4 ,DEMOCRACY EXCLUDES ! RE/ ( HUMANITY FROM Y\R COMMUNITY & IT PREP>ES AN >MY1 9CLUD+ Y\1 TO KILL ALL ! EXCLUD$ ONES4 ,! MOM5T Y\ REFUSE TO KILL = ! SAKE ( DEMOCRACY1 Y\ TOO >E EXCLUD$4 .<444.> 

,DEMOCRACY IS A CONS]VATIVE TRIBAL ME?OD BY :I* C]TA9 ANCI5T ,GREEK TRIBES REPRODUC$ !MSELVES4 ,IT WILL NEV] ALL[ Y\ TO BECOME DIFF]5T UNTIL Y\ ESCAPE FROM ! TRIBE4 ,& TODAY1 :5 ! CONTROL ( ! CAPITALI/ M>KET & DEMOCRATIC /ATE >E ABSOLUTE ALL >\ND ! WORLD1 !RE IS NO O!R WAY TO ESCAPE DEMOCRACY EXCEPT TO DE/ROY IT4 

,EV5 KN[+ ALL ( ?IS1 SOME PEOPLE DEF5D DEMOCRACY4 ,!Y WANT TO F9D A =M ( DEMOCRACY ?AT DOESN'T 5D UP 9 OLIG>*Y1 JU/ LIKE ! #b#a/ C5TURY COMMUNI/S :O >E SE>*+ = COMMUNI/ SY/EMS ?AT DON'T LEAD TO TOTALIT>IANISM4 ,BUT ! ,F\ND+ ,FA!RS ( ALL NATIONS /& OV] DEMOCRATS ( ALL K9DS1 LOOK+ ON APPROV+LY AS NORMALITY REASS]TS ITSELF--! SAME CONDITIONS ( EXPLOITATION1 NEW FACES 9 ! SAME OLD POSITIONS ( AU?ORITY4 

,?IS WORLD WILL NEV] *ANGE AS LONG AS WE >E AFRAID TO CUT ! ROOTS ( ?IS ORD]4 ,DEMOCRACY IS ! F9AL ALT]NATIVE = ALL :O >E AFRAID TO /EP 9TO ! UNKN[N T]RITORY ( !IR [N DESIRES1 !IR [N P[]4 ,LIKEWISE1 ! DEM& = 0REAL0 DEMOCRACY IS ! LA/ WAY = SOCIAL MOVEM5TS TO LEGITIMIZE !MSELVES 9 ! SUPPOS$ 0SOCIAL SPH]E0 7& TO AVOID CRIM9ALIZATION74 ,JU/ AS IT IS ! F9AL /EP1 DEMOCRACY IS ALSO ! F9AL OB/ACLE TO NEW POSSIBILITIES >IS+ 9 SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4.<444.> 

,DIRECT DEMOCRACY (F]S US AN ALT]NATIVE WAY TO GOV]N \R LIVES4 ,BUT IS ?IS REALLY :AT WE NE$8 ,DO WE WANT TO REPRODUCE ! LIMITS ( ! OLD WORLD ON A SMALL] SCALE8 ,DO WE WANT ! 0G5]AL ASSEMBLY0 TO DECIDE AB\T \R LIVES8 ,OR DO WE WANT TO EXP& \R LIVES 9TO NEW =MS ( SELF-DET]M9ATION & OP5 %>+ ( CREATIVITY1 TO (F] \R P[] FREELY = ! B5EFIT ( ALL HUMANITY1 H[EV] WE 7& ?OSE ) :OM WE %>E \R LIVES7 SEE FIT8 .<444.> 

,!RE IS NO G5]AL ASSEMBLY ?AT C\LD KN[ BETT] ?AN WE DO H[ WE CAN MAKE ! MO/ ( \R ABILITIES TO B5EFIT ! PEOPLE >\ND US4 ,?IS IS ! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 AN AFF9ITY GR\P1 :I* PRODUCES A COLLECTIVE & EXPANSIVE P[]1 & A DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY1 :I* CONC5TRATES P[] \TSIDE \R LIVES & RELATION%IPS1 ALI5AT+ US FROM \RSELVES & EA* O!R4 

,DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOS$ TO GET RID ( ! APA?Y PRODUC$ BY REPRES5TATION1 S9CE IT APPE>S AS A 0P>TICIPATORY0 =M ( DEMOCRACY4 ,BUT IS ! IDEA ?AT WE WILL HAVE AN ASSEMBLY ( MILLIONS ( PEOPLE8 ,W\LD SU* AN ASSEMBLY REALLY BE CAPABLE ( (F]+ US FRE$OM & EQUALITY8 ,EA* ( US W\LD JU/ FEEL LIKE A /ATI/IC 9 IT AS WE WAIT$ = DAYS = \R TURN TO SPEAK4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 IF WE R$UCE ?AT =M TO ! M9USCULE LEVEL ( A NEI<BORHOOD ASSEMBLY1 DON'T WE TRAP \RSELVES 9 A MICROCOSM LIKE OV]SIZE ANTS8 

,ANY K9D ( 0DIRECT DEMOCRACY0 REPRODUCES ! SAME CONDITIONS AS REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY1 JU/ ON A SMALL] SCALE4 ,! MAJORITY SUPPRESSES ! M9ORITY1 DRIV+ !M 9TO APA?Y4 ,(T51 Y\ DON'T EV5 TRY TO EXPRESS Y\R OP9ION1 AS Y\ KN[ Y\ WILL HAVE NO *ANCE TO PUT IT 9TO PRACTICE4 ,(T51 Y\ >E AFRAID TO SPEAK1 AS Y\ KN[ ?AT Y\ WILL BE HUMILIAT$ BY ! MAJORITY4 ,HOMOG5EITY IS ! ULTIMATE IMP]ATIVE ( ANY DEMOCRATIC PROC$URE1 0DIRECT0 OR REPRES5TATIONAL--A HOMOG5EITY ?AT 5DS UP AS TWO F9AL OP9IONS 7! MAJORITY & M9ORITY71 LOS+ ! VA/ RI*NESS ( HUMAN 9TELLIG5CE & S5SIBILITY1 ]AS+ ALL ! COMPLEXITY & DIV]SITY ( HUMAN NE$S & DESIRES4 

,?IS IS :Y EV5 DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLIES CAN 5D UP DECID+ TO C>RY \T 9HUMAN G5OCIDES1 LIKE ! ONE ANCI5T ,A!NS 9FLICT$ UPON ,MYLOS 9 #daf ,B,C4 ,EXCLUD$ PEOPLE HAVE BE5 5SLAV$ & RAP$ AS A RESULT ( DIRECT DEMOCRATIC DECISIONS4 ,DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS 0MEMB]S ONLY40 ,BECAUSE IT IS SMALL]1 IT EXCLUDES EV5 MORE PEOPLE ?AN REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY--PRODUC+ ISOLAT$ BUBBLES ?AT FI<T EA* O!R LIKE ! CITY-/ATES ( ANCI5T ,GREECE4 ,EV]YBODY IS AN \TSID]1 A =EIGN]1 A POSSIBLE 5EMY2 ?AT'S :Y ! COMMUNITY HAS TO BUILD >MIES TO DEF5D ITSELF & Y\ HAVE TO DIE TO PROTECT ! OP9ION ( ! MAJORITY EV5 IF Y\ DISAGREE ) IT4 ,:OEV] WILL NOT GO ALONG ) ! DECISION MU/ BE PUNI%$--LIKE ,SOCRATES1 ! WORLD-FAM\S VICTIM ( DEMOCRACY1 & ?\S&S ( O!RS4 ,! *>ISMATIC LEAD]S F9D ! BE/ POSSIBLE DIRECT CONNECTION ) !IR FOLL[]S1 & ! DEMOCRATIC ME*ANISMS = MANIPULAT+ PUBLIC OP9ION WORK DIRECTLY BETT] ?AN EV]6 ,DIRECT DEMOCRACY WILL NEV] LIB]ATE US FROM DEMOCRACY4 

-- ,DE/9ATION ,AN>*Y6 

 ,GOLDMAN 

,! ,/ATE1 GOV]NM5T ) ITS FUNCTIONS & P[]S1 IS N[ ! SUBJECT ( VITAL 9T]E/ TO EV]Y ?9K+ MAN4 ,POLITICAL DEVELOPM5TS 9 ALL CIVILIZ$ C\NTRIES HAVE BR\<T ! QUE/IONS HOME4 ,%ALL WE HAVE A /RONG GOV]NM5T8 ,>E DEMOCRACY & P>LIAM5T>Y GOV]NM5T TO BE PREF]R$1 OR IS ,FASCISM ( ONE K9D OR ANO!R1 DICTATOR%IP -- MON>*ICAL1 B\RGEOIS OR PROLET>IAN -- ! SOLUTION ( ! ILLS & DIFFICULTIES ?AT BESET SOCIETY TODAY8 

,9 O!R WORDS1 %ALL WE CURE ! EVILS ( DEMOCRACY BY MORE DEMOCRACY1 OR %ALL WE CUT ! ,GORDIAN KNOT ( POPUL> GOV]NM5T ) ! SWORD ( DICTATOR%IP8 

,MY ANSW] IS NEI!R ! ONE NOR ! O!R4 ,I AM AGA9/ DICTATOR%IP & ,FASCISM AS ,I AM OPPOS$ TO P>LIAM5T>Y REGIMES & SO-CALL$ POLITICAL DEMOCRACY4 .<444.> 

,MORE P]NICI\S ?AN ! P[] ( A DICTATOR IS ?AT ( A CLASS2 ! MO/ T]RIBLE -- ! TYRANNY ( A MAJORITY4 

-- ,! ,9DIVIDUAL1 ,SOCIETY & ! ,/ATE 

 ,BLACK 

0,!RE >E NO SELF-EVID5T DEMOCRATIC VOT+ RULES -- ,MAJORITY OR PLURALITY8 ,PROXY VOT+8 ,QUORUMS8 ,>E SUP]MAJORITIES 7?REE-FIF?S8 TWO-?IRDS87 REQUIR$ = ALL1 SOME1 OR NONE ( ! DECISIONS8 ,:O SETS ! AG5DA8 ,>E MOTIONS FROM ! FLOOR 5T]TA9$8 ,:O DECIDES :O GETS TO SPEAK1 & = H[ LONG1 & :O GETS ! FIR/ OR LA/ WORD8 ,:O S*$ULES ! MEET+8 ,:O ADJ\RNS IT8 ,& :O DECIDES1 & BY :AT RULES1 ! ANSW]S TO ALL !SE QUE/IONS8 0,IF ! P>TICIPANTS DISAGREE ON ! VOT+ RULES1 !Y MAY FIR/ HAVE TO VOTE ON !SE RULES4 "9"9,BUT !Y MAY DISAGREE ON H[ TO VOTE ON ! VOT+ RULES1 :I* MAY MAKE VOT+ IMPOSSIBLE AS ! DECISION ON H[ TO VOTE IS PU%$ FUR!R & FUR!R BACK40 .<444.> 

,AS 7AMONG MANY O!RS7 ,PI]RE-,JOSEPH ,PR\DHON1 ,H5RY ,DAVID ,?OREAU1 ,MIKHAIL ,BAKUN91 ,B5JAM9 ,TUCK]1 ,]RICO ,MALATE/A1 & ,EMMA ,GOLDMAN SAID--& DOES ANYBODY DISAGREE8--DEMOCRACY DOES NOT ASSURE CORRECT DECISIONS4 0,! ONLY ?+ SPECIAL AB\T MAJORITIES IS ?AT !Y >E NOT M9ORITIES40 ,!RE IS NO /R5G? 9 NUMB]S1 OR RA!R1 !RE IS NO?+ BUT /R5G? 9 NUMB]S4 ,P>TIES1 FAMILIES1 CORPORATIONS1 UNIONS1 NE>LY ALL VOLUNT>Y ASSOCIATIONS >E1 BY *OICE1 OLIG>*IC4 ,9DE$1 9 ASSEMBLIES :E!R DIRECT OR REPRES5TATIVE1 9 ELECTORATES AS 9 LEGISLATURES1 ! :OLE IS LESS--EV5 LESS--?AN ! SUM ( ITS P>TS4 ,IT IS EV5 MA!MATICALLY DEMON/RABLE 7BUT NOT BY ME7 ?AT MAJORITY DECISION-MAK+ G5]ATES 9EFFICI5T1 SOCIALLY WA/EFUL1 MORE OR LESS SELF-DEFEAT+ DECISIONS4 .<444.> 

,DIRECT DEMOCRACY1 TO AN EV5 GREAT] DEGREE ?AN REPRES5TATIVE DEMOCRACY1 5C\RAGES EMOTIONAL1 IRRATIONAL DECISION MAK+4 

,! FACE-TO-FACE CONTEXT ( ASSEMBLY POLITICS 5G5D]S /RONG 9T]P]SONAL PSY*OLOGICAL 9FLU5CES :I* >E1 AT BE/1 EXTRANE\S TO DECISION MAK+ ON ! M]ITS4 ,! CR[D IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ORATORS & />S1 & 9TOL]ANT ( CONTRADICTION4 ,! SPEAK]S1 9 ! LIMIT$ TIME ALLOTT$ TO !M1 T5D TO SACRIFICE REASON+ TO P]SUASION :5EV] !Y HAVE TO *OOSE1 IF !Y WANT TO W94 ,AS ,HOBBES WROTE1 ! SPEAK]S BEG9 NOT FROM TRUE PR9CIPLES BUT FROM 0COMMONLY ACCEPT$ OP9IONS1 :I* >E = ! MO/ P>T USUALLY FALSE1 & !Y DO NOT TRY TO MAKE !IR DISC\RSE CORRESPOND TO ! NATURE ( ?+S BUT TO ! PASSIONS ( M5'S HE>TS4 ,! RESULT IS ?AT VOTES >E CA/ NOT ON ! BASIS ( CORRECT REASON+ BUT ON EMOTIONAL IMPULSE40 0,PURE DEMOCRACY1 LIKE PURE RUM1 EASILY PRODUCES 9TOXICATION1 & ) IT A ?\S& MAD PRANKS & FOOLI%NESS40 ,DISS5T]S FEEL 9TIMIDAT$1 AS !Y W]E1 = 9/ANCE1 :5 ! ,A!NIAN ASSEMBLY VOT$ = ! DISA/R\S ,SICILIAN EXP$ITION3 0,! RESULT ( ?IS EXCESSIVE 5?USIASM ( ! MAJORITY WAS ?AT ! FEW :O W]E ACTUALLY OPPOS$ TO ! EXP$ITION W]E AFRAID ( BE+ ?\<T UNPATRIOTIC IF !Y VOT$ AGA9/ IT1 & !RE=E KEPT QUIET40 .<444.> 

,DEMOCRACY 9 ANY =M IS IRRATIONAL1 UNJU/1 9EFFICI5T1 CAPRICI\S1 DIVISIVE1 & DEMEAN+4 ,ITS DIRECT & REPRES5TATIVE V]SIONS1 AS WE HAVE SE51 %>E MANY VICES4 ,NEI!R V]SION EXHIBITS ANY CLE> ADVANTAGE OV] ! O!R4 ,EA* ALSO HAS VICES PECULI> TO ITSELF4 ,9DE$ ! SY/EMS DIFF] ONLY 9 DEGREE4 ,EI!R WAY1 ! WOR/ TYRANNY IS ! TYRANNY ( ! MAJORITY4 

-- ,DEBUNK+ ,DEMOCRACY 

,I CAME TO ! CONCLUSION ?AT ! REJECTION ( DEMOCRACY IS ! MO/ IMPORTANT TASK = CONTEMPOR>Y AN>*I/S4 

-- ,NI<TM>ES ( ,REASON 

,NOAM ,*OMSKY IS AN >D5T BELIEV] 9 DEMOCRACY1 :I*1 ONCE AGA91 PROVES ?AT HE IS A /ATI/1 NOT AN AN>*I/4 ,DEMOCRACY IS A =M ( GOV]NM5T4 ,AN>*Y IS SOCIETY )\T GOV]NM5T4 .<444.> 

444BUT ?AT HAS NOT /OPP$ SOME AN>*I/S FROM TRY+ TO MAKE AN>*ISM POPUL> BY ID5TIFY+ IT ) DEMOCRACY1 ! REGNANT POLITICAL DOGMA ( ! #b? C5TURY4 ,:]EAS :AT WE NE$ TO DO IS1 AS ! ,SITUATIONI/S PUT IT1 TO LEAVE ! #b? C5TURY4 ,I DON'T ?9K ?AT DEMOCRACY IS POPUL>4 ,IT'S JU/ FA%IONABLE1 & PROBABLY NOT EV5 FA%IONABLE1 EXCEPT AMONG SOME PR(ESSORS & /UD5TS4 ,!RE IS NO?+ DEMOCRATIC AB\T ! GOV]NANCE ( COLLEGES & UNIV]SITIES1 :I* IS :]E ! DEMOCRATIC !ORI/S NE/4 ,!RE >E NO DEM&S BY ANYONE TO DEMOCRATIZE !M1 AS !RE W]E 9 ! #a#i#f'S & E>LY #a#i#g'S4 ,I AM NOT AW>E ?AT 9 HIS MANY DECADES AS A PR(ESSOR AT ! ,MASSA*USETTS ,9/ITUTE ( ,TE*NOLOGY ?AT ,NOAM ,*OMSKY HAS EV] ADVOCAT$ CAMPUS DEMOCRACY4 ,DEMOCRACY 9 FACTORIES1 DEMOCRACY 9 ,EA/ ,TIMOR1 SURE1 BUT NOT DEMOCRACY AT ,M,I,T6 ,N,I,M,B,Y - ,NOT ,9 ,MY ,BACK ,Y>D6 

,:ATEV] DEMOCRACY MI<T !ORETICALLY MEAN1 9 ! REAL WORLD1 0DEMOCRACY IS A EUPHEMISM = CAPITALISM444 .<444.> 

,ALL AN>*I/S %\LD GET 9TO !IR HEADS1 ?OSE ( !M :O HAVE SOME ROOM = IT !RE1 ! TRU? ?AT DEMOCRACY ISN'T AN>*Y AT ALL1 IT'S ! F9AL /AGE ( /ATISM4 ,IT'S ! LA/ WALL ( ! CA/LE4 ,IT'S ! CURTA9 ) ! MAN /ILL BEH9D IT4 .<444.> 

,SOME?+ NOT SO OBVI\S 9 ! PA/1 BUT OBVI\S N[1 IS ?AT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE BO? ANTI-CAPITALI/ & PRO-DEMOCRATIC4 ,& YET ! NOISIE/ AN>*O-LEFTI/S1 SU* AS ! ONES PUBLI%$ BY ,A,K ,PRESS & ,P,M ,PRESS1 >E DEMOCRATS4 

,RUDOLF ,ROCK]1 :O IS ONE ( ! V]Y FEW AN>*I/S :OM ,*OMSKY HAS READ1 & :OM HE HAS DESCRIB$ AS ! LA/ S]I\S ?9K]1 ?\<T ?AT AN>*ISM WAS ! SYN!SIS ( LIB]ALISM & SOCIALISM4 ,BUT ,ROCK] EXPLICITLY DID NOT CONSID] DEMOCRACY TO BE ANY P>T ( ?IS SYN!SIS4 ,HE CONSID]$ DEMOCRACY TO BE 9H]5TLY /ATI/ & ANTI-SOCIALI/ & ANTI-LIB]AL4 ,ROCK] WAS RI<T4 ,*OMSKY IS WRONG4 ,*OMSKY IS ALWAYS WRONG4 

-- ,*OMSKY ON ! NOD 

 ,VOL9E 

,! A*IEVEM5T ( ! TRUE EMANCIPAT+ REVOLUTION REQUIRES ! ACTIVE P>TICIPATION1 ! /RICT COLLABORATION1 CONSCI\S & )\T RES]VATIONS1 ( MILLIONS ( M5 ( ALL SOCIAL CONDITIONS1 DECLASS$1 UNEMPLOY$1 LEVEL$1 & ?R[N 9TO ! ,REVOLUTION BY ! =CE ( EV5TS4 

,BUT1 9 ORD] ?AT !SE MILLIONS ( M5 BE DRIV5 9TO A PLACE FROM :I* !RE IS NO ESCAPE1 IT IS NECESS>Y ABOVE EV]Y?+ ELSE ?AT ?IS =CE DISLODGE !M FROM ! BEAT5 TRACK ( !IR DAILY EXI/5CE4 ,& = ?IS TO HAPP51 IT IS NECESS>Y ?AT ?IS EXI/5CE1 ! EXI/+ SOCIETY ITSELF1 BECOME IMPOSSIBLE2 ?AT IT BE RU9$ FROM TOP TO BOTTOM -- ITS ECONOMY1 ITS SOCIAL REGIME1 ITS POLITICS1 ITS MANN]S1 CU/OMS1 & PREJUDICES4 

-- ,! ,UNKN[N ,REVOLUTION 

 ,J>A* 

,! ,MY?IC ,APPEAL ( ,DEMOCRACY 

,A MY? ISN'T A LIE-IT IS A /ORY TOLD BY PEOPLE ) A P>TICUL> \TLOOK TO O!RS ) A SIMIL> \TLOOK4 ,IT CAN CONTA9 TRU? & FALSEHOOD 9 V>Y+ MIXTURES & RATIOS1 BUT ! IMPORTANT ?+ IS ?AT IT MAKES S5SE TO ITS AUDI5CE4 

,ACCORD+ TO ! BELIEV]S 9 ,DEMOCRACY 7RULE ( ! PEOPLE -- H[EV] 0! PEOPLE0 IS DEF9$ & N>R[$ TO EXCLUDE P>TICUL> SEGM5TS FROM P>TICIPATION 9 GOV]NM5T71 IT IS A SY/EM ( DECISION-MAK+ ?AT 5ABLES ! RULE ( ! WISE/ & MO/ CAPABLE & SKILLFUL1 REG>DLESS ( H]$IT>Y CLASS PRIVILEGE2 ?IS IS ITS REPUBLICAN 7ANTI-MON>*I/7 H]ITAGE4 ,DEMOCRATS 7ESPECIALLY ?OSE :O ID5TIFY ) ! TRADITION ( ,LIB]ALISM7 BELIEVE ?AT MAJORITY RULE PROVIDES MORE VOICE 9 DECISION-MAK+ = MORE PEOPLE4 ,!Y BELIEVE ?AT MORE REPRES5TATION MEANS MORE FAIRNESS1 ?AT A MORE 9=M$ VOT+ BASE 9CREASES ! WISDOM ( REPRES5TATIVES1 :I* FUR!RS ! RESPONSIV5ESS & FAIRNESS ( SAID REPRES5TATIVES4 ,= DEMOCRATS1 9=MATION IS P[]4 ,!SE >E SOME ( ! MY?S ( ,DEMOCRACY & !Y >E TIRELESSLY PROMOT$ BY ! ,/ATE ?R\< PUBLIC S*OOL 9DOCTR9ATION & FANCIFUL M$IA IMAGES4 .<444.> 

,! CLASSICAL ,LIB]AL IDEA IS ?AT 9=MATION EQUALS P[]1 OR 9=MATION EQUALS FRE$OM4 ,FROM ?IS WE GET ! SILLY POLITICAL TACTIC ( 0SPEAK+ TRU? TO P[]0 AS IF 0P[]0 W]E SOME CREATURE ) A CONSCI5CE1 &_/OR A S5SE ( GUILT4 ,! *ANT+ ( 0,%AME1 ,%AME0 AT DEMON/RATIONS :5 ! COPS R\< UP LAWBREAK]S OR :5 A POLITICIAN %[S HIS FACE IS ! RESULT ( ?IS K9D ( MY?OLOGICAL ?9K+4 ,! IDEA ?AT EXPOSURE &_/OR EMB>RASSM5T IS 5\< TO GET ?OSE 9 P[] TO ALT] !IR POLICIES IS A LEGACY ( ! MY? SURR\ND+ ,G&HI 7ESPECIALLY ! FILM V]SION71 :O SUPPOS$LY S+LE-H&$LY EMB>RASS$ ! ,BRITI% ,EMPIRE 5\< TO GET !M TO GRANT 9DEP5D5CE TO ,9DIA4 ,?IS PACIFI/ & LIB]AL NONS5SE CONT9UES TO HAVE A BAD 9FLU5CE ON MO/ AN>*OID ACTIVI/S1 EVID5C$ BY !IR CALLS = MASS MOBILIZATIONS3 MORE NUMB]S EQUALS MORE 9FLU5CE1 EQUALS MORE RESPONSIV5ESS FROM REPRES5TATIVES4 

,!Y HAVE ASSIMILAT$ MANY DEMOCRATIC MY?S4 

-- ,DEMOCRACY & ,CONSPIRACY3 ,OV]LAPS1 ,P>ALLELS1 & ,/&>D ,OP]AT+ ,PROC$URES 

 ,WOODCOCK 

,! EXTREME CONC]N = ! SOV]EIGNTY ( 9DIVIDUAL *OICE NOT ONLY DOM9ATES AN>*I/ IDEAS ( REVOLUTION>Y TACTICS & ( ! FUTURE /RUCTURE ( SOCIETY2 IT ALSO EXPLA9S ! AN>*I/ REJECTION ( DEMOCRACY AS WELL AS AUTOCRACY4 ,NO CONCEPTION ( AN>*ISM IS F>!R FROM ! TRU? ?AN ?AT :I* REG>DS IT AS AN EXTREME =M ( DEMOCRACY4 

,DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES ! SOV]EIGNTY ( ! PEOPLE4 ,AN>*ISM ADVOCATES ! SOV]EIGNTY ( ! P]SON4 ,?IS MEANS ?AT AUTOMATICALLY ! AN>*I/S D5Y MANY ( ! =MS & VIEWPO9TS ( DEMOCRACY4 ,P>LIAM5T>Y 9/ITUTIONS >E REJECT$ BECAUSE !Y MEAN ?AT ! 9DIVIDUAL ABDICATES HIS SOV]EIGNTY BY H&+ IT OV] TO A REPRES5TATIVE2 ONCE HE HAS DONE ?IS1 DECISIONS MAY BE REA*$ 9 HIS NAME OV] :I* HE HAS NO LONG] ANY CONTROL4 ,?IS IS :Y AN>*I/S REG>D VOT+ AS AN ACT ?AT BETRAYS FRE$OM1 BO? SYMBOLICALLY & ACTUALLY4 ',UNIV]SAL ,SUFFRAGE IS ! ,C\NT]-,REVOLUTION1' CRI$ ,PR\DHON1 & NONE ( HIS SUCCESSORS HAS CONTRADICT$ HIM4 

,BUT ! AN>*I/ OPPOSITION TO DEMOCRACY GOES DEEP] ?AN A DISPUTE OV] =MS4 ,IT 9VOLVES A REJECTION ( ! IDEA ( ! PEOPLE AS AN 5TITY DI/9CT FROM ! 9DIVIDUALS :O COMPOSE IT2 IT ALSO 9VOLVES A D5IAL ( POPUL> GOV]NM5T4 ,ON ?IS PO9T ,WILDE SPOKE = ! AN>*I/S :5 HE SAID3 ',!RE IS NO NECESSITY TO SEP>ATE ! MON>*Y FROM ! MOB2 ALL AU?ORITY IS EQUALLY BAD4' ,P>TICUL>LY1 ! AN>*I/ REJECTS ! RI<T ( ! MAJORITY TO 9FLICT ITS WILL ON ! M9ORITY4 ,RI<T LIES NOT 9 NUMB]S1 BUT 9 REASON2 JU/ICE IS F\ND NOT 9 ! C\NT+ ( HEADS BUT 9 ! FRE$OM ( M5'S HE>TS4 0,!RE IS BUT ONE P[]1' SAID ,GODW91 'TO :I* ,I CAN YIELD A HE>T-FELL OB$I5CE1 ! DECISION ( MY [N UND]/&+1 ! DICTATE ( MY [N CONSCI5CE4' ,& ,PR\DHON WAS ?9K+ ( DEMOCRACIES AS WELL AS ( ! ,EMP]OR ,NAPOLEON ,I,I,I :5 HE PR\DLY DECL>$3 ',:OEV] PUTS HIS H& ON ME TO GOV]N ME IS A USURP] & A TYRANT2 ,I DECL>E HIM MY 5EMY6' 

,9 REALITY ! IDEAL ( AN>*ISM1 F> FROM BE+ DEMOCRACY C>RI$ TO ITS LOGICAL 5D1 IS MU* NE>] TO >I/OCRACY UNIV]SALIZ$ & PURIFI$4 ,! SPIRAL ( HI/ORY H]E HAS TURN$ FULL CIRCLE1 & :]E >I/OCRACY -- AT ITS HI<E/ PO9T 9 ! ,RABELAISIAN VISION ( ! ,ABBEY ( ,!LEME -- CALL$ = ! FRE$OM ( NOBLE M51 AN>*ISM HAS ALWAYS DECL>$ ! NOBILITY ( FREE M54 ,9 ! ULTIMATE VISION ( AN>*Y !SE FREE M5 /& GODLIKE & K+LY1 A G5]ATION ( PR9CES4 

-- ,AN>*ISM3 ,A ,HI/ORY ( ,LIB]T>IAN ,IDEAS & ,MOVEM5TS 

 ,WILDCAT 

,A LOT ( PEOPLE WILL AGREE ) A LOT ( :AT ,I'M SAY+ 7OR WILL ?9K ?AT !Y DO67 BUT WILL SAY 0,AH1 ,YES1 BUT :AT Y\'RE TALK+ AB\T IS B\RGEOIS DEMOCRACY4 ,:AT ,I MEAN BY DEMOCRACY IS SOME?+ QUITE DIFF]5T40 ,I WANT TO SUGGE/ ?AT :5 PEOPLE TALK AB\T 0REAL0 OR 0WORK]S'0 DEMOCRACY 9 OPPOSITION TO B\RGEOIS DEMOCRACY1 9 FACT !Y DO MEAN ! SAME ?+ ?AT ! B\RGEOISIE MEAN BY DEMOCRACY1 DESPITE SUP]FICIAL DIFF]5CES4 ,! FACT ?AT !Y *OSE TO USE ! WORD DEMOCRACY IS ACTUALLY F> MORE SIGNIFICANT ?AN !Y CLAIM4 ,?IS IS :Y IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY 0,DEA? TO DEMOCRACY60 .<444.> 

,I N[ WANT TO TALK AB\T DEMOCRACY 0)9 \R [N RANKS0 -- ?AT IS1 AMONG PROLET>IANS 9 /RUGGLE4 ,! USUAL 0WORK]S' DEMOCRACY0 >GUM5T1 = EXAMPLE1 WILL SAY 0,O,K1 WE DON'T HAVE DEMOCRATIC RELATIONS ) ! B\RGEOISIE BUT AMONG \RSELVES !RE %\LD BE ! MO/ P]FECT EQUALITY & RESPECT = RI<TS40 ,?IS IS USUALLY SE5 AS A WAY ( AVOID+ BUREAUCRATIZATION & DOM9ATION BY SMALL CLIQUES & 5SUR+ ?AT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE >E 9VOLV$ 9 A P>TICUL> /RUGGLE4 ,! IDEA IS ?AT IF PEOPLE >E ALL[$ ! RI<T TO SPEAK1 ! RI<T TO VOTE ETC41 !N Y\ CAN JU/ GO ALONG TO A MEET+ & IMM$IATELY BE P>T ( ?IS DEMOCRATIC COLLECTIVITY & SO IMM$IATELY BE 9VOLV$4 

,:AT DOES DEMOCRATIZ+ A /RUGGLE MEAN 9 PRACTICE8 ,IT MEANS ?+S LIKE3 

,MAJORIT>IANISM -- ,NO?+ CAN BE DONE UNLESS A MAJORITY AGREE TO IT4 

,SEP>ATION BETWE5 DECISION MAK+ & ACTION -- ,NO?+ CAN BE DONE UNTIL EV]YBODY HAS HAD A *ANCE TO DISCUSS IT4 ,?IS CAN BE SE5 AS ANALOG\S TO ! SEP>ATION BETWE5 ! LEGISLATIVE & EXECUTIVE >MS ( A DEMOCRATIC /ATE4 ,IT'S NO CO9CID5CE ?AT DISCUSSIONS )9 DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS (T5 RESEMBLE P>LIAM5T>Y DEBATE6 

,EMBODIM5T ( ! VIEW ?AT NO ONE CAN BE TRU/$ -- ,DEMOCRATIC /RUCTURES TAKE ! 0W> ( ALL AGA9/ ALL0 = GRANT$1 & 9/ITUTIONALIZE IT4 ,DELEGATES ALWAYS HAVE TO BE REVOCABLE SO !Y WON'T PURSUE !IR [N HIDD5 AG5DA :I*1 ( C\RSE1 EV]YONE HAS4 

,ALL ( !SE PR9CIPLES EMBODY SOCIAL ATOMIZATION4 ,MAJORIT>IANISM BECAUSE EV]YONE IS EQUAL & USUALLY HAS ONE VOTE4 ,! SEP>ATION BETWE5 DECISION MAK+ & ACTION BECAUSE IT'S ONLY FAIR ?AT Y\ %\LD CONSULT EV]YONE BE=E ACT+ -- IF Y\ DON'T Y\ >E VIOLAT+ !IR RI<TS4 ,A P>TICUL>LY OBNOXI\S EXAMPLE ( ! ?IRD ?+ -- EMBODY+ ! VIEW ?AT NO ONE CAN BE TRU/$ -- IS ! DEM& = 0,FACTION ,RI<TS0 PUT =W>D BY ,TROTS4 ,USUALLY !Y CALL = ?IS :5 SOME ORGANIZATION IS TRY+ TO ?R[ !M \T4 ,:AT ?IS RI<T AM\NTS TO IS ! FRE$OM TO PLOT & CONSPIRE AGA9/ O!R MEMB]S ( :AT IS SUPPOS$LY A WORK+ CLASS ORGANIZATION4 ,OBVI\SLY1 NO G5U9E COMMUNI/ ORGANIZATION C\LD EV] 5T]TA9 ANY IDEA ( FACTION RI<TS4 

,IT IS PROBABLY ! SECOND ( !SE PR9CIPLES :I* IS ! MO/ IMPORTANT & :I* NE$S TO BE /RESS$ H]E4 

,!SE DEMOCRATIC PR9CIPLES CAN ONLY /& 9 COMPLETE OPPOSITION TO ! CLASS /RUGGLE S9CE1 BY DEF9ITION1 ! CLASS /RUGGLE IMPLIES A BREAK ) SOCIAL ATOMIZATION & ! =MATION ( SOME K9D ( COMMUNITY -- H[EV] N>R[1 TRANSI5T OR VAGUE ?IS MAY BE4 

,MAJOR EV5TS 9 ! CLASS /RUGGLE ALMO/ NEV] BEG9 ) A VOTE OR ) EV]YBODY BE+ CONSULT$4 ,!Y ALMO/ ALWAYS BEG9 ) ACTION BY A DET]M9$ M9ORITY :O BREAK FROM ! PASSIVITY & ISOLATION ( ! MAJORITY ( PROLET>IANS >\ND !M4 ,!Y !N TRY TO SPREAD ?IS ACTION ?R\< EXAMPLE RA!R ?AN ?R\< REASON$ >GUM5T4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 ! DIVISION BETWE5 DECISION MAK+ & ACTION IS ALWAYS BE+ BREA*$ 9 PRACTICE4 ,RI<T-W+ POPULI/S 7& A FEW AN>*I/S7 COMPLA9 ?AT TR\BLE-MAK+ ACTIVITIES >E ORGANIZ$ BY SELF-APPO9T$ CLIQUES ( ACTIVI/S :O REPRES5T NO ONE BUT !MSELVES444 &1 ( C\RSE1 !Y'RE RI<T6 

,! M9]S' /RIKE 9 ! ,U,K 9 #a#i#h#d-#e PROVID$ MANY 9SPIR+ EXAMPLES ( H[ ! CLASS /RUGGLE IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC 9 PRACTICE4 ,! /RIKE ITSELF DID NOT />T DEMOCRATICALLY -- !RE WAS NO BALLOT1 NO S]IES ( MASS MEET+S4 ,IT BEGAN ) WALK-\TS AT A FEW PITS ?REAT5$ ) CLOSURE1 & WAS !N SPREAD BY FLY+ PICKETS4 ,?R\<\T ! /RIKE !RE WAS AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE ( ! RI<T-W+ ( ! ,LABOR ,P>TY & ! ,R,C,P 7,REVOLUTION>Y ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY7 SAY+ ?AT ! M9]S %\LD HOLD A NATIONAL BALLOT4 ,! MO/ MILITANT M9]S CONSI/5TLY REJECT$ ?IS1 SAY+ ?+S LIKE3 0SCABS DON'T HAVE ! RI<T TO VOTE AWAY ANO!R MAN'S JOB0 -- :I* IS A DEMOCRATIC =M ( WORDS BUT ,I ?9K Y\ WILL AGREE ?AT ! ATTITUDE BEH9D IT C]TA9LY ISN'T4 ,ON OCCASIONS1 MEMB]S ( ! ,R,C,P W]E QUITE RI<TLY BEAT5 UP & CALL$ 0,TORIES0 BECAUSE ( !IR SUPPORT = A BALLOT4 

,!RE W]E ALSO NUM]\S EXAMPLES ( SABOTAGE & DE/RUCTION ( ,COAL ,BO>D PROP]TY1 (T5 ORGANIZ$ BY SEMI-CL&E/9E1 SO-CALL$ 0HIT SQUADS04 ,OBVI\SLY1 SU* ACTIVITIES1 BY !IR V]Y NATURE1 CANNOT BE ORGANIZ$ DEMOCRATICALLY -- :E!R OR NOT !Y >E APPROV$ ( BY A MAJORITY ( ! /RIK]S4 

-- ,AGA9/ ,DEMOCRACY 

 ,ANONYM\S _?#b 

,DEMOCRACY JU/IFIES ITSELF BAS$ ON C]TA9 PR9CIPLES ?AT >E NO LESS FALSE = HAV+ BE5 REPEAT$ A ?\S& TIMES AS TRU?S1 & ITS JU/IFICATION IS SO 9T]NALIZ$ ?AT EV5 ITS OPPON5TS BELIEVE 9 ITS PR9CIPLES4 ,CONSID]+ H[ +RA9$ & IMMOBILE ! IDEA ( ?IS SY/EM'S FUNDAM5TAL GOODNESS IS 9 ! PEOPLE'S ?9K+1 *ANGE SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE2 NOBODY SEEMS TO BE SUGGE/+ ANY O!R ORGANIZATIONAL =MS !SE DAYS1 OR EV5 O!R WAYS ( LIFE4 

,WE DAU<T]S ( DEMOCRACY HAVE BE5 TOLD ?AT ?IS IS ! BE/ ( ALL REGIMES2 \R P>5TS & GR&MO!RS LIV$ UND] A SY/EM :]E CO]CION & REPRESSION W]E MORE DIRECT1 & N[ ?AT IT HAS TAK5 ON A S(T] =M1 WE >E EXPECT$ TO ACCEPT IT FROM BIR?4 ,:Y IS IT ?AT WE >E GO+ TO BE A POOR] G5]ATION ?AN ! PREVI\S ONES1 )\T !RE EV5 HAV+ BE5 A W> 9 BETWE58 ,! BLAME LIES ) ! IRREP>ABLE TRANS=MATIONS IMPOS$ BY !IR SY/EM4 .<444.> 

,9 DEMOCRACY WE LEAVE ! DEF5SE ( \R 9T]E/S1 ! SATISFACTION ( \R NE$S1 & ! ORGANIZATION ( HUMAN RELATIONS & LIFE 9 ! H&S ( O!RS4.<444.> 

,IT SEEMS ?AT1 9 ! POLICE SE>*ES1 NUM]\S COPIES ( A BOOK CALL$ ,CONTRA LA DEMOCRACIA W]E F\ND4 ,?IS BOOK ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE TOOLS ( REFLECTION & DEBATE = ?OSE :O OPPOSE DEMOCRACY1 ?AT MY?ICIZ$ & DEIFI$ SY/EM ?AT WE >E ALL OBLIGAT$ TO V5]ATE & DEF5D1 GIV5 ?AT IF WE DON'T1 WE RUN ! RISK ( 5D+ UP ) \R BONES 9 ! ,/ATE'S DUNGEONS4 ,H[EV]1 WE KN[ ?AT DEMOCRACY IS PRECISELY ! FOLL[+1 ! SAME /ORY ONCE AGA93 REPRESSION & 9C>C]ATION ( ALL ?OSE :O RAISE !IR HEADS & FI<T DAILY = ! DE/RUCTION ( ALL ,AU?ORITY & ! CON/RUCTION ( A NEW WORLD ?AT WORKS BAS$ ON HORIZONTALITY & MUTUAL AID1 9 :I* ALL VE/IGES ( ,P[] HAVE DISAPPE>$4 

,DEMOCRACY IS1 NECESS>ILY1 PRISON1 ! POLICE1 PI/OLS & BOMBS1 WAGE LABOR1 S*OOLS AS C5T]S ( 9DOCTR9ATION & DI/ORTION1 PSY*IATRI/S1 M]*&ISE1 ! ,P>LIAM5T1 GOV]NM5T & DOM9ATION AS A =M ( 0ORGANIZ+0 SOCIETY4442 DEMOCRACY IS SIMPLY ONE MORE WAY ?AT ! ,/ATE & ,CAPITAL1 ! DOM9ANT M9ORITY1 HAVE ( ADM9I/]+ !IR SY/EM ( OPPRESSION4 ,IT'S BECAUSE ( ?IS ?AT1 AS AN>*I/S1 WE DECL>E W> AGA9/ DEMOCRACY & ANY O!R SY/EM ( DOM9ATION & ,P[]2 IT'S BECAUSE ( ?IS ?AT WE FI<T & WILL CONT9UE TO FI<T ! 0PUBLIC PEACE0 M5TION$ BY ! TORTUR] ,JAVI] ,GOMEZ ,B]MUDEZ1 ! PUBLIC PEACE ( JAILS1 ( W>S1 ( UNEMPLOYM5T1 ( WAGE & LABOR EXPLOITATION1 ( HUNG]1 ( MIS]Y1 ( EVICTIONS1 ( CONSUM]ISM1 ( BEAT5 & EXPELL$ MIGRANTS1 ( >RE/S & POLICE TORTURE1 ( ! HUNDR$S ( WOM5 KILL$ AT ! H&S ( MA*ISMO & PATRI>*Y1 ( ! REPRES5TATION ( \R LIVES 9 ! H&S ( A M9ORITY BY MEANS ( ! VOTE & P>LIAM5T>IANISM1 ( ?AT FALSE LIFE ( C>DBO>D & MONEY :OSE GOAL IS = US TO =GET & = US TO ACCEPT \R ALI5AT$1 SUBMISSIVE1 & EMPTY LIVES4 

-- ,AGA9/ ,DEMOCRACY 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #b#b#a-#a#b-#f FROM RADDLE4ME_/WIKI_/AN>*I/S.-AGA9/.-DEMOCRACY47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#c1 #bbb 3 ,AN>*I/S ,AGA9/ ,DEMOCRACY -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/