New Books in Political Science

David Wiles, "Democracy, Theatre and Performance: From the Greeks to Gandhi" (Cambridge UP, 2024)

Apr 13, 2025

David Wiles, Emeritus Professor of Drama at the University of Exeter, explores how democracy resembles theatre in its performative aspects. He argues that historical orators shaped political realities, while politicians often wear the mask of hypocrisy for the greater good. Wiles delves into the influences of ancient Athens and revolutionary movements, linking culture with politics. He provocatively suggests that calls for authenticity can't effectively counter modern populism, encouraging a reflection on the role of theatricality in both historical and contemporary democracy.

01:11:24

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David Wiles

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Quick takeaways

David Wiles argues that politics functions as a theatrical performance, highlighting how historical figures have utilized emotional engagement to influence democracy.

The podcast emphasizes theatre's crucial role in shaping civic skills and representation throughout history, particularly for marginalized groups in early democracies.

Deep dives

Theatricality in Political Discourse

The podcast emphasizes the inherent theatricality of political life, suggesting that politics has always involved performative elements. Historical figures like Boris Johnson and Donald Trump are highlighted as master performers who skillfully engage emotions to connect with audiences. This contrasts sharply with their opponents, who rely on rational arguments that often fail to resonate emotionally. The discussion raises the question of whether the reliance on theatricality in political discourse is a contemporary phenomenon or has existed throughout history, as the speaker notes that even in ancient Athens, political debates involved theatricality aimed at persuading the masses.

Intro

2min

Theatre as a Mirror of Democracy

12min

Theatre and Democracy in Ancient Athens

7min

Art and Authoritarianism: Theatrical Politics

8min

Demosthenes vs. Iskines: Voices in Athenian Democracy

6min

Puritanism and the Birth of Democracy

12min

Theatrical Manipulation and Political Discourse During the French Revolution

5min

Theater, Democracy, and Marginalized Voices

17min

Democracy, argues David Wiles, is actually a form of theatre. In making his case, the author deftly investigates orators at the foundational moments of ancient and modern democracy, demonstrating how their performative skills were used to try to create a better world. People often complain about demagogues, or wish that politicians might be more sincere. But to do good, politicians (paradoxically) must be hypocrites - or actors.

Moving from Athens to Indian independence via three great revolutions – in Puritan England, republican France and liberal America – Democracy, Theatre and Performance: From the Greeks to Gandhi (Cambridge UP, 2024) opens up larger questions about the nature of democracy. When in the classical past Plato condemned rhetoric, the only alternative he could offer was authoritarianism. Wiles' bold historical study has profound implications for our present: calls for personal authenticity, he suggests, are not an effective way to counter the rise of populism.

Brilliantly reveals the ways in which culture shapes politics, with apposite historical examples
Reframes politics as theatre, allowing politically-minded readers to reflect upon the way performance must always shape the democratic process and in turn allowing theatrically-oriented readers to look afresh at political processes
Proposes a novel and striking historical framing of contemporary issues – Brexit, Trump, political polarization – by using theatre as a tool to imaginatively unlock these issues
Deploys wide-ranging case studies to contrast the ancient Greek city-state with modern electoral democracy around the world

David Wiles is Emeritus Professor of Drama at the University of Exeter. A British theatre historian, he specialises in classical and early modern theatre and has spent his career in departments of drama, where his teaching has always engaged with practice. His research interests include performance space and time, mask, acting and citizenship.

Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter.

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