Are populists enemies of democracy?
#331
Photog: Good Morning, Economist.
Econ: Good Morning, Photographer.
Photog: What do you think about equality, Economist?
Econ: It is the heart of democracy.
Photog: How come?
Econ: Democracy means the power of the people. Of the entire people. But the people consist of individuals, right? So, if every single person is powerful, what do they do?
Photog: Tell me.
Econ: They follow their desires. Equality enables precisely this. That people can follow their desires. That all people can follow their desires. By having equal opportunities. And by taking into account people's differences.
Photog: So you're not a fan of the abolition of programs to promote equality, as it is currently happening under the Trump administration in the USA?
Econ: I am not. And the consequences extend far beyond the USA.
Photog: In what way?
Econ: Because the world is a global one. Non-US companies operating in the US are pressured to comply with the new regulations; some even act in anticipation of obedience. Women's quota? Abolished. Ethnic diversity targets? Gone. Chief Diversity Officer? Renamed. It seems that some companies only flew the rainbow flag because it was so colourful.
Photog: Why does Trump pursue this policy?
Econ: He follows the business model of populists.
Photog: Explain.
Econ: Populists in a democracy need one thing above all else: a majority.
Photog: In this respect, populists are no different from other politicians who want to change something. They need majorities to do so.
Econ: But populists achieve this by playing some against others. Usually, majorities against minorities. Trump has the majority on his side when it comes to abolishing minority protections. We may hardly believe it here in Europe, but compared to other US presidents at the beginning of their terms, Trump is one of the most popular.
Photog: In that sense, everything is fine in the US. The majority voted for Trump. The majority still supports his policies. That’s democracy!
Econ: Just because the majority approves of politics does not mean that its implementation is democratic.
Photog: No?
Econ: No.
Photog: Why not?
Econ: Majority voting in a democracy is a tool. It helps make decisions when there are multiple wishes but a single decision is needed. Which route should a railway line take? How much money should be spent on defence? The election of a government is also part of it. Two parallel governments with equal powers simply make no sense.
Photog: What should your train of thought lead to?
Econ: If the possibility of following one’s wishes is the heart of democracy, and majority decision-making is a tool of democracy, then this tool must not be used to tear out the heart of democracy. This is why, for example, human rights are considered inalienable, and constitutions cannot simply be changed by majority decisions.
Photog: Donald Trump doesn't care much about that.
Econ: That's why it's so crucial that other democratic institutions be preserved. If popular power is the heart of democracy, then the separation of powers is democracy's life insurance. The separation of powers makes democracy resilient. If there are attempts to dismantle democracy in one corner, it is all the more important that it is rock solid in another. With checks and balances, democracies can survive for long.
Photog: Like in the USA.
Econ: Like in the USA.
Photog: So you're optimistic about the future of democracy in the USA?
Econ: Optimism is a duty.
Photog: Was that an answer?
Econ: Sure.
Photog: That's supposed to sound confident.
Econ: How does it sound to you?
Photog: It sounds like we should put a lot of thought into strengthening democracy, preferably not just in the US.
Econ: Sounds good to me.
Photog: Well then, see you, Economist.
Econ: See you, Photographer.
Related: US warns French companies they must comply with Trump's diversity ban (Reuters)
Who are Econ and Photog? ……… 🚶♀️🚶🏽