In the Name of the People: Pseudo-Democracy and the Spoiling of Our World

by Ivo Mosley

Overview

Are our 'democracies' truly democratic? In the Name of the People examines the myth of modern democracy and finds it wanting. The various oligarchies of the world blame the madness of modern life on the greed and stupidity of ordinary people: this book argues that, on the contrary, elites indulge a limitless greed for power and wealth under cover of 'giving the people what they want'.
As a coda to his short book, Ivo Mosley examines what true democracy has meant over the last two and a half millennia, and examines how it could be incorporated into current political structures to give them meaning, life and accountability.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845405717
Publisher:	Andrews UK
Publication date:	03/12/2013
Series:	Societas , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	803 KB

About the Author

Ivo Mosley writes on politics and culture for many journals and newspapers, both mainstream and academic. Previous books (which include Dumbing Down and Democracy, Fascism and the New World Order, both for Imprint Academic) have been acclaimed 'book of the year' (Spectator), 'entirely fascinating' (The Week), 'a book for our time' (Telegraph); 'At last! A guide to the moronic inferno!' (PN Review) and 'If there is any hope at all, it lies in the existence of books like this!' (Daily Mail).

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Is 'democracy' really democracy? 3

2 'Representative democracy': Establishing the illusion 15

3 Representative government as a home-grown product 29

4 Case study: How debt came to rule the world 46

5 Representative government II: The export model 95

6 The oligarchy today: Corporations and governments 107

7 Democracy and good government 128

Bibliography 157

Index 167

Editorial Reviews

According to Mosley (Dumbing Down) civilization is close to needing a "coroner’s report," and a first step in avoiding such a fate is understanding why electoral representation does not equal "democracy." He opens with quotes from historical ethos-bearers, making us feel gullible for believing we live in democracies. But rather than offending, his method compels further reading on how this is not democracy’s true form. Mosley widens the parameters of debate about corruption and efficiency of government, outlining how knowledge gaps thwart change, government mechanisms remain obscure or inaccessible, and, in a true democracy, people chosen by lot—akin to juries—make practical decisions. Electoral representation is particularly violent in multi-ethnic societies; Sudan, Turkey, Rwanda, and the United States of America all underwent genocides, as did democratically-elected Nazi Germany. Moreover, when Western electoral systems ship overseas, currency becomes a fourth power alongside the legislative, judicial, and executive, with "rivilege blurred into outright criminality." Economists’ warnings of using debt to create money further haunt the text. Full of black humor, Mosley, grandson of British fascist leader Oswald Mosley, acutely understands how and why current forms of electoral governance are destined to fall short of their promise. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Mosley considers the rise of the corporation and its relationship to the representative form of government."

Book News

"Almost all evils of the present day are attributed to the emergence, and subsequent establishment, of representative government..."

Bookbag

"This book is a refreshingly interesting and honest read and will leave you condemning the government even more, if that is possible."

Mortgage Strategy - Honor Whiteman

"Food for thought."

Tribune - Keith Richmond