The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio) Why Authoritarians Despise Experts
May 8, 2025
Tom Nichols, a Staff writer at The Atlantic and author of 'The Death of Expertise', explores the attack on expert knowledge and its societal implications. He discusses how skepticism towards expertise has burgeoned, partly fueled by internet research and the rise of non-expert voices like Joe Rogan. Nichols examines the dangers of politicizing expertise in authoritarian regimes and the erosion of trust during crises such as COVID-19. He argues that disrespect for informed knowledge threatens democracy and effective governance.
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Experts' Successes Underappreciated
- People’s anger at experts has grown despite major successes in managing crises like vaccines and the economy.
- Many fail to associate expert advice with the positive outcomes they experience in daily life.
Respect for Expertise is Fading
- Respect for expertise is dying, not expert ability itself.
- Many patients dictate treatments instead of trusting their doctors’ advice, which undermines effective societal function.
Comfort Breeds Disrespect for Experts
- High living standards and boredom lead people to underestimate complexity and reject expertise.
- Social media overload promotes misinformation and mental fatigue, increasing distrust in experts.
