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Mike 03

(16,616 posts)

21. The conservative elite and the disgruntled masses have different reasons for succumbing

Reply to kentuck (Original post)

Mon Jan 18, 2021, 11:05 AM

Jan 2021

to the allure of authoritarianism.

It takes both of them for it to succeed.

Some incredible books have recently been written about it. One of my favorites is Anne Applebaum's Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism. Also Benjamin Carter Hett's Death of Democracy: Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic in how it explains the same grievances that led people to join the Nazi Party are still responsible for provoking modern people to join anti-Democracy parties. Also Timothy Snyder's absolutely remarkable The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America.

The classic on this is still Hannah Arendt's The Origins of Totalitarianism.

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23 replies

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Why would anyone choose a dictatorship over America's present "democracy"? [View all] kentuck Jan 2021 OP

Democracy is hard. TDale313 Jan 2021 #1

They don't want to think for themselves yuiyoshida Jan 2021 #2

You said what I was trying to say... TDale313 Jan 2021 #4

Yep. They need a daddy. GoCubsGo Jan 2021 #10

They don't want black and brown people to have a say exboyfil Jan 2021 #3

Nor Asians yuiyoshida Jan 2021 #11

I think it is more of an "I hate the government" TBA Jan 2021 #5

That's easy atreides1 Jan 2021 #6

because they are stupid and gullible and cant think past their hate. bullimiami Jan 2021 #7

They are late to the concepts of Democracy... they only listened to Fox... FarPoint Jan 2021 #8

Because a portion of the population is wired to need a daddy to tell them GoCubsGo Jan 2021 #9

Bc it would be run by white people... ananda Jan 2021 #12

Hatred of the 'other' superpatriotman Jan 2021 #13

Because they have never experienced a real dictatorship in which all people are subject to LaMouffette Jan 2021 #14

This right here... I lived in a relatively 'benign' dictatorship in UAE, JCMach1 Jan 2021 #15

Thanks for that first-hand report! kentuck Jan 2021 #16

To echo kentuck, thank you for sharing your experience! LaMouffette Jan 2021 #20

You literally wake up every day wondering Enoki33 Jan 2021 #23

Because democracy requires a modicum of responsibility and sacrifice nuxvomica Jan 2021 #17

They believe they are the chosen ones SallyHemmings Jan 2021 #18

It is because they would rather have "their" dictator than "our" president. Chainfire Jan 2021 #19

The conservative elite and the disgruntled masses have different reasons for succumbing Mike 03 Jan 2021 #21

People who support a dictatorship always believe they are doing it for their own safety or profit. haele Jan 2021 #22