- 05 Dec 2016 15:29
#14745977
We have some interesting data points to look at. They suggest public support for the underlying assumptions of liberalism* has declined - not just a little bit, but in an astonishingly precipitous fashion.
*'Liberalism' here is not intended in the parochial American sense. Liberalism, in the general sense, is the common core of Western societies, as derived (however tenuously) from Enlightenment philosophy. Modern conservatism, liberalism in the American parlance, social democracy, libertarianism, etc. are all subsumed under the more general category of Liberalism.
Link
The researchers looked at the question "is it essential to live in a democracy?" and analyzed the answers according to both date of birth and country:
The Anglophone stalwarts are losing faith. This is not good for liberalism, representative democracy, etc.
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Believe military takeover is not legitimate in a democracy
Millennials Older citizens
19%...........43%
US
36%...........53%
EU
So only 1 in 5 American millennials take a dim view of a coup d'etat. The rest simply can't be bothered.
---
We see similar numbers on related questions, such as the importance of free elections and civil rights. Notably, in millennials the degree of apathy is closely correlated with non-compliance with liberalism.
The strongly suggests to me that liberal institutions have been zombified. They coast along on momentum, but are not organically connected to the population.
*'Liberalism' here is not intended in the parochial American sense. Liberalism, in the general sense, is the common core of Western societies, as derived (however tenuously) from Enlightenment philosophy. Modern conservatism, liberalism in the American parlance, social democracy, libertarianism, etc. are all subsumed under the more general category of Liberalism.
Link
The researchers looked at the question "is it essential to live in a democracy?" and analyzed the answers according to both date of birth and country:
The Anglophone stalwarts are losing faith. This is not good for liberalism, representative democracy, etc.
---
Believe military takeover is not legitimate in a democracy
Millennials Older citizens
19%...........43%
US
36%...........53%
EU
So only 1 in 5 American millennials take a dim view of a coup d'etat. The rest simply can't be bothered.
---
We see similar numbers on related questions, such as the importance of free elections and civil rights. Notably, in millennials the degree of apathy is closely correlated with non-compliance with liberalism.
The strongly suggests to me that liberal institutions have been zombified. They coast along on momentum, but are not organically connected to the population.
The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters. -Antonio Gramsci