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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom – which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information – is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?
Barbara Tuchman, The March of FollyBy the people?
Democracy, so the popular maxim assures us, is government of the people, by the people, for the people – and it is unique among political regimes in being so. In this chapter we seek to interrogate that species of democratic piety. To be more precise, we shall question two-thirds of it. That democracy is government of the people is hardly to be denied. But this is not what makes democracy unique: All functioning political regimes govern “the people.” It is rather democracy's status as rule by the people and for the people that is the distinctive core of the democrat's faith.
The two elements – the by-ness and for-ness – are not unrelated. Although government for the people by a beneficent elite is a conceptual possibility, it is a highly improbable one.
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