The answer is a resounding no; as mentioned earlier, the concept of democracy cannot be implemented in reality. The system implemented is in fact elitism. As for the economic prosperity of the West, this is due to the implementation of another phenomenon known as "colonialism". The Western enlightenment experiment can be said to have comprised:
- a rational scientific approach to matters and
- the creation of a democratic society based on an informed and rational citizenry.
Both aspects of the experiment are dead in the water.
Even informed and educated men, starting with our political class and the media, are incapable of rational thought and sometimes display surprising ignorance. Our Prime Minister David Cameron showed his ignorance of the Magna Carta on American television. Worse, the political class, here and in the US, display their contempt for its provisions on a daily basis.
And when the least dubious matter appears in the news, the masses run scatter propelled entirely by whatever signals the political class and the media put out. The problem is that this experiment also obliterated the culture from out of which it sprang, one grounded in Greek and Latin, whose thought was framed by Judeo-Christian morality.
The assertion that democracy is not the primary driver behind the economic prosperity of the West is a perspective that warrants a detailed exploration. This article aims to dissect this viewpoint, examining the role of democracy, the impact of colonialism, and other factors that have contributed to the West's economic success.
The Illusion of True Democracy: It is argued that what is often perceived as democracy in Western societies is, in reality, a form of elitism. This perspective challenges the notion that democratic processes in these societies are fully representative or participatory.
Evidence of Elitist Influence: Instances such as former UK Prime Minister David Cameron's apparent lack of understanding of the Magna Carta, as well as the perceived contempt of the political class for its provisions, are cited as evidence of this elitism.
Colonialism as a Key Factor: The argument posits that the economic prosperity of the West is largely due to colonialism rather than democracy. This perspective highlights the exploitation and resource extraction from colonized regions as central to the economic development of Western nations.
Long-term Economic Benefits: The wealth accumulated through colonial endeavors provided the capital necessary for industrialization and economic growth in Western countries, overshadowing the impact of democratic institutions.
Failure of Rational Scientific Approach: Despite its emphasis on rationality and science, the Western enlightenment experiment is critiqued for failing to uphold these ideals, particularly among the political and media elites.
Deterioration of Informed Citizenry: The critique extends to the general populace, suggesting a decline in the ability to engage in informed, rational discourse, influenced heavily by media and political narratives.
This analysis suggests that the economic prosperity of the West is more attributable to historical factors like colonialism rather than the implementation of democratic ideals. The critique extends to the Western enlightenment experiment, questioning its success in fostering a rational, informed citizenry and its impact on cultural foundations.
Q1: Is democracy the primary reason behind the West's economic prosperity? A1: This perspective argues that it is not; rather, factors like colonialism and elitism have played a more significant role.
Q2: How has colonialism contributed to the West's economy? A2: Colonialism provided immense wealth through exploitation and resource extraction, which was crucial for the industrialization and economic growth of Western nations.
Q3: What is the critique of the Western enlightenment experiment? A3: The critique focuses on its failure to uphold a rational scientific approach and maintain an informed, rational citizenry, as well as its detrimental impact on cultural foundations.
Q4: What evidence supports the claim of elitism in Western democracies? A4: Examples include the perceived ignorance of significant historical documents by political leaders and the general influence of the political and media elites on public opinion.
Q5: Has the cultural foundation of Western societies impacted its form of democracy? A5: Yes, the erosion of cultural foundations rooted in Greek, Latin, and Judeo-Christian morality is argued to have negatively influenced the state of democracy in Western societies.
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