another  project WORLDVIEW worldview theme         copyright 2012            Home

club WV Theme...               #20A / 20B              ...individual<--->group

   ELITISM / AUTHORITARIANISM

I have problems with democracy. I think most people are ill-prepared to decide what is best for society. Assemblies of such people are not to be trusted: I fear their collective strength. Society is best served by a select group of clear-sighted, capable leaders / experts. Highly educated, trained, and groomed to wield power, they should oversee maintenance of law & order, promote production of wealth, and guide the masses toward ends they deem to be appropriate. (Note: Elitists often identify with "capital" rather than “labor,” and with “capable leaders / experts.” They may not readily identify with the leader(s) of an authoritarian socio-political system, one based on the subjugation of individual rights. Only those obediently willing to submit to the authority of the leader(s) would be comfortable with this system.

Related Words, Beliefs, Background--39 entries                 Discussion from The Worldview Literacy Book

 

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #20A: Elitism

Academic Elitism   (from online encyclopedia)

Oligarchy (from online encyclopedia)

Mixed Government (from online encyclopedia)

Elective Monarchy (from online encyclopedia)

Social Class (from online encyclopedia)

Mixed Government (from online encyclopedia)

Elective Monarchy (from online encyclopedia)

In Focus: What is Elitism?

Worldview Watch issue #3: Populism vs. Elitism

"Plato: The Failure of Democracy and Platonic Elitism in Modern Times" (Frostburg State U. philosophy forum)

In Defense of Elitism, by William A. Henry III (review of this 1995 book by writer for Time magazine )

"A Crisis from the Top: The Unwisdom of Elites" by Paul Krugman (May 9, 2011 NY Times article)

"The Case for Elitism" by Emer O'Kelly (position paper from The Arts Council in Ireland)

"The False Accusation of Elitism", by Linda Silverman (essay on gifted education and charges of elitism)

"Superiority Complex: We have democratized elitism..."

Environmental Elitism

On the Meaning of Elitism (animal rights perspective)

Elitism vs. Checks & Balances in Communicating Scientific Information to the Public, by Arthur Kantrowitz

Yes I'm an Elitist, and Why That Doesn't Mean I Hate You

The Elitism Myth

Wealth and Democracy, by Kevin Phillips (excerpts from this book)

The Meritocracy Myth (book by UNC sociologists)

In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best Run Companies (read this 2004 book at Google Books)

Dictionary of Vocational Psychology: Elitism

quotes related to elitism

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #20B: Authoritarianism

Authoritarian Personality (from online encyclopedia)

Fascism (from online encyclopedia)

Monarchy    (from online encyclopedia)

Consent of the Governed (from online encyclopedia)

Worldview Watch issue #4: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism

Past Alternatives vs. Democracy: Autocracy & Aristocracy

Social Science Information Gateway: Authoritarian Government (links to 50 recent articles involving this)

What is Fascism? (article by Matthew Lyons from the book Right Wing Populism in America)

What is Fascism? (by Chip Berlet,  from preface to Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party)

The Beijing Consensus: How China's Authoritarian Model will Dominate by S. Halper (review of 2010 book)

Democracy Kills, by Humphrey Hawksley (review of this 2009 book)

China Modernizes: Threat to the West or Model for the Rest? by R.  Peerenboom (excerpts of 2008 book at Google Books)

"Crying for Freedom: Democracy's Decline" (article in The Economist,  January16-22  2010 issue)

"Fear--The Foundation of Every Government's Power" by Robert Higgs (2005 article)

Authoritarian and Democratic Technics, by Lewis Mumford

The Authoritarian Specter, by Robert Altemeyer (book review of book from Harvard University Press)

The Internet and State Control in Authoritarian Regimes

quotes related to fascism

quotes related to authority

back to The Reality Marketplace to shop for more WV Themes                                        

forward to next club theme,  WV Theme #21

"As you shop in "The Reality Marketplace" avoid spending your "reality cash" too early,  before you have seen everything. " 
from Coming of Age in the Global Village,  by Stephen P. Cook,  with Donella H. Meadows. 

	Web www.projectworldview.org