Democracy vs. Autocracy: An Unproductive Dichotomy

We often hear of a struggle between “democracies“ and “autocracies.“ This conflict is presented as immutable and is commonly coded in an ethical lexicon. This video considers the two terms -- and the misleading binary they produce -- as political instruments, rather than useful analytical categories. We must reject the empty rhetoric that evokes these concepts and instead elevate the standards of democracy. Democracy should mean truly popular control over both politics and economics. It should require a deeply embedded commitment to public welfare and management of a collective future. Narration, script, and editing by M. -------- Patreon: Twitter: -------- 00:00 - 01:19 Introduction 01:20 - 05:19 Problematizing “Democracy“ and “Autocracy“ 05:20 - 06:25 The Importance of Historical Precedent 06:26 - 07:46 Rejecting the National Mythos 07:47 - 08:33 Materialism and Overdetermination 08:34 - 10:05 Democracy/Autocracy as Political Rhetoric 10:06 - 10:39 A Higher Bar for Democracy 10:40 - 10:53 Outro