Friend of the blog Alexander Hellene thought about what form of government would be able to create the sort of society seen in Star Trek. He concludes that liberal democracy cannot do so, but a more hierarchical system can.
But then I put a question to him, a question that has haunted political theorists for centuries: Who watches the watchmen? Who holds the wielders of power (the “watchmen”) accountable? I answer that liberal democracy attempts a solution despite its flaws, and that alone puts it head-and-shoulders above any system that ignores the question.
However, I thought about it some more, and I realized that I was asking the wrong question entirely.
When we ask “What form of government is best?”, we’re really asking “What form of government will turn men into angels?”
When we argue against a form of government, we cite various forms of abuse and corruption. However, one must realize that all governments, including liberal democracies, can be corrupted to the point where they fail.
Once you realize this, you realize, that there is not and will never be a political solution to humanity’s inherent flaws. Men cannot be turned into angels, no matter how much propaganda you spread.
In other words, this is a question of morality, of how humanity as a whole ought to behave.
From there, the question we really want to ask is “How do we promote virtue in the people?” Traditional religions are uniquely suited to answering this, and like the question of the watchmen, it cannot be ignored. For prosperity to exist, the watchmen and those who watch the watchmen must both be virtuous.
Because without virtue, you get a corrupt clown show, not a society.
For a glimpse at what a virtuous future might look like, read The Perils of Sasha Reed.
Rawle
This has been part of the great conversation since the pre Socratica. I have my own political theory:the doctrine of 2 swords. It originates from Pole Gelisius. Others favors throne and altar.
Anyways, literature is a great medium to explore political regimes.
xavier
This has been part of the great conversation since the pre Socratica.
Yeah, that’s what I learned — and I think they came to the same conclusion that I did: promote virtue.
In fact, “How do you promote virtue?” has to be answered before “Who watches the watchmen?”