The End of History That Wasn’t. Did the New Dominance of Democracy and Capitalism Fail?

Thinking that Greece’s democracy had reached a final stage and would last forever, Thucydides wrote: “History is the teaching of philosophy by example.” But then, during the Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and Sparta, he witnessed its collapse. Answers as to “Why?”, or what the true meaning of democracy was, were found in how most states built democratic institutions upon the raw emotions of fear and self-interest. As for history, the relationship between human intelligence and judgment was just too irrational and incalculable to predict. Consequently, can the same then be said of today’s Western-styled democracies and their capitalistic systems

Questioning the “End of History”
As the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the U.S. and European allies came to an end, political experts and analysts, especially in the United States, looked forward to two dramatic shifts in human affairs. The first was “the end of history,” which emphasized the new dominance of the democratic form of government. It maintained that the contests among political and economic systems, particularly between democracy and communism, was over; and that democracy would suddenly sweep across the world. With this, the need to question political institutions would also end. Democracy worked best, and it was here to stay-forever.

But as in ancient Greece, this now seems to be far from the truth. Given the rise of authoritarian regimes in the West and what appears to be a new Cold War between Russia and the U.S., some wonder how nations with tremendous technological prominence and intellectual advantages could’ve squandered their freedoms and liberties. They’re also asking how the same nations can give ill-informed and untrained people the right to vote equally ill-informed and untrained people into elected positions. This not only entails elected leaders who are bigoted or exploit democratic institutions to serve their own financial interests, but if it’s not a new stage in history.

Others are wondering how some nations can even call themselves democratic. To be sure, this is the idolatrous character of labeling a nation a democracy. In so doing, it’s seen as the absolute refusal to question it. Take the U.S. for instance. Voices such as women’s, minorities’, and those of the working classes have gone unheard or unheeded. Nor are they allowed the opportunity to take responsibility for their own independence and self-determination. The voices who rule are instead the moneyed classes. Along with the means to buy political parties and representatives who make laws on their behalf, they control the mass media and propaganda multipliers.

Another mistaken belief is the idea that historically, democracies are less likely to go to war. Or that once people control the affairs of the state through voting the selfishness and power trips that lead to war end. Again, America and European allies have proven this to be wrong. In addition to an inability to understand the horrors of war, they’ve failed to appreciate the common humanity they share with others. Deep State elites have moreover found ways to circumvent anti-war vote. A less instructed, less critical, and malleable citizenry is only the first part. The second is harnessing the internal anger these democracies experience into wars of aggression.

Capitalism’s Incompatibility with Democracy
The same is true of capitalism, the second view to a dramatic shift in human affairs. Many thought the spread of consumer capitalism would win out around the world. As put forward by a U.S. journalist in a popular book called The Lexus and the Olive Tree, the consumer capitalism approach emphasized the benefits of a global economy. In this, everyone would gain access to greater material abundance and the wonder of consumerism, and no one would wish to jeopardize prosperity by waging war. Despite rapacious privatization and usury, individual interests, and ever dwindling resources, the idea of capitalism would carry the day.

What’s carried the day though is a realization that capitalism is not compatible with democracy-or the environment. A self-centered drive for material wealth and power has led to corruption within democratic societies, sapping the effectiveness of their most cherished institutions. Capitalism is showing a much darker side too. It capitalizes on the growing disparities of wealth even within the most prosperous nations. Overseas, it uses notorious mercenary armies. This has led to violent protests and civil unrest from the working and underclasses. Both are derailing Western-styled democracies that once promised free-market utopias which turned dystopian.

Considering a nation can’t survive morally or economically when so few have so much, and so many have so little, capitalism is collapsing as well. Like unequal rights, an imbalance between rich and poor is the most fatal ailment for any democracy. So are unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities. Outright repression or terrorism aren’t the only way human rights are violated. So is a lack of affordable medicine and healthcare, or zero access to vital resources and a living infrastructure. It includes a new history in structural genocide. With the onslaught of global capitalism and rising inequalities, this then is what the world is facing.

The world is also facing more economic crises like the one which occurred in 2008. It not only went unlearned, but it failed to restructure a new and more equitable foundation out of the wreckage. Neither did it undo the schemes of the world’s elite financial engineers. In other words, they’re still manufacturing economic recessions to exploit the poor and working classes. They’re still manipulating interest rates, collateralized loan obligations, and stocks and pensioners’ investments. And they’re still dabbling in bank fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, hedge financing, and mortgage backed bonds. Basically, it’s socialism for the wealthy.

Is Democracy Enough?
It’s said that Thucydides was exiled by democracy. Perhaps it had to be, since he examined its nature and asked too many questions. It entailed the purpose and meaning of Greek democracy, and if it was enough. To be sure, even democracy can pass as totalitarian in nature if it’s never questioned or examined. It can also be a trap. Known as the Thucydides Trap, rising powers always cause fear in established powers making war inevitable. Consequently, this new century is far from “the end of history,” where democracy and capitalism were supposed to rule. As these so-called democratic nations and capitalism collapses and is challenged, anything is possible.

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John’s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.WN.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and www.WN.com/dallasdarling.