#386 - Information & Social Order
Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content
Elections as a Facade: Power and Control
Maintaining the appearance of elections serves as a powerful facade for autocracies, allowing leaders to claim democratic legitimacy while consolidating their power. Historical precedents, such as those from the Roman Empire, reveal that rulers like Augustus kept electoral processes intact to disguise their autocratic rule. This tactic persists in modern regimes, exemplified by North Korea, where elections are held regularly to project an illusion of democracy and overwhelming public support. A critical concern for contemporary democracies is the risk of empowering leaders who may refuse to relinquish power, as demonstrated by figures like Donald Trump. This situation raises questions about the resilience of democratic institutions amidst threats to their integrity, particularly when there’s a belief that these institutions will safeguard democracy, despite evident attempts to undermine them.
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