Liberal democracy’s post-Cold War triumph masks deep popular disaffection

Evidence

As this turbulent century draws to a dose, liberal democracy seems to be recognized as the only legitimate form of government. But does that indicate its final victory over its adversaries, as some would have it? There are serious reasons to be sceptical about such a claim. For once, it is not clear how strong is rhe present consensus and how long it williasr. While very few dare to openly chaJlenge the liberal-democratic model, the signs of disaffection with present institutions are becoming widespread. An increasing number of people feel that traditional parties have ~d to take their interests into account, and extreme rightwing parties are making important inroads in many European countries. Moreover, even among those who are resisting the call of the demagogues, there is a marked cynicism about politics and politicians, and this has a very corrosive effect on popular adhesion to democratic values. There is clearly a negative force at work in most liberal-democratic societies, which contradicts the triumphalism that we have witnessed since the collapse of Soviet communism. — Chantal Mouffe, The Democratic Paradox, 372

Categorization

• SEED: Angles for an essay on the post-1989 triumphalism-to-disaffection arc and its corrosive effect on democratic allegiance — connects to present populist surge.
• XREF: connects to: The Cold War’s end did not make liberal democracy inevitable across civilizations — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 177; Neoliberalism combined support for liberal democracy with fear of mass democracy — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market: Human Rights…, 107; Post-Cold War politics reconfigured itself along cultural identity lines. (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Winning the Cold War left the West exhausted rather than triumphant #corroborates (0.83) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 221
• The Cold War’s end did not make liberal democracy inevitable across civilizations #expands (0.82) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 177
• Neoliberalism combined support for liberal democracy with fear of mass democracy #expands (0.78) — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market, 107
• The delusion of progressivism is structural, not psychological, in liberal democracy #expands (0.74) — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 1390
• Post-Cold War politics reconfigured itself along cultural identity lines. #expands (0.71)